Sawyer
Single-arm collaborative manufacturing robot
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Sawyer is a single-arm collaborative robot developed by Rethink Robotics for precision manufacturing tasks such as machine tending, circuit board testing, and other automated work alongside people. It uses force sensing embedded in each joint to enable compliant motion control, and an animated display face to communicate its state. The robot was designed for deployment in factory environments without traditional safety caging.
Released: 2015
RoboZaps evaluation note
Buyer-side view of Sawyer
RoboZaps reviews Sawyer as part of a broader robot shortlist, not as a single-vendor pitch. Buyers should compare availability, deployment maturity, support terms, integration work, and total cost before committing.
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- 0 linked
- Last verified
- Not verified
- Availability
- customer confirmed
- Support caveat
- Verify local training, maintenance, parts, and uptime terms.
Best fit
Teams that need to compare Sawyer against otherindustrial cobots options with deployment readiness, commercial terms, and support assumptions made explicit.
Not best fit
Buyers who need a guaranteed off-the-shelf deployment before confirming current availability, integrator coverage, site readiness, and post-sale support ownership.
Commercial review before shortlist
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Buyer-intent resources
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Overview
Sawyer is a single-arm collaborative robot introduced by Rethink Robotics, a Boston-based company, to automate precision tasks in manufacturing environments. It was designed to work safely alongside human workers without protective caging, targeting jobs such as machine tending, electronic testing, and small-part handling that were previously difficult to automate cost-effectively.
The robot relies on high-resolution force sensing embedded at each joint, which gives it compliant motion control and the ability to adapt to variability on the production line. An expressive on-board display communicates the robot's intent and status to nearby operators, reflecting Rethink's focus on intuitive, human-friendly automation.
Sawyer first appeared as the successor to Rethink's earlier Baxter robot and was rolled out for global deployment across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Following the closure of the original Rethink Robotics in 2018, the company's assets and the Sawyer product line were transferred to new ownership.
Key Features
- Embedded high-resolution force sensing at each joint enabling compliant motion control
- Seven-axis arm offering a wide, human-like range of motion for flexible task placement
- Designed for collaborative operation alongside people in factory settings without traditional safety caging
- Sealed, dust- and spray-resistant construction suited to harsh manufacturing environments
- Animated display face that communicates the robot's state and intent to operators
Videos
Deployment Evidence
Sawyer Discontinuation — Internal Assessment
Rethink Robotics ceased operations in 2018; Sawyer is discontinued. Hahn Group acquired intellectual property; no new production. Units in operation were deployed at automotive and electronics manufacturers.
Deployment Readiness
Integration & SDK
- ROS Support
- Supported
- SDK Available
- Supported
- API Docs
- —
- Supported Platforms
- Linux, ROS 1, Python
Support & Service
Regions
—Support details not available
Specifications
Environment
| IP Rating | 54 |
Mechanics
| Degrees of Freedom | 7 |
| Locomotion | Stationary |
Performance
| Max Speed | 1.5 m/s |
| Payload Capacity | 4 kg |
| Reach | 1260 mm |
| Repeatability | 0.1 mm |
Physical
| Weight | 19 kg |
Sensing
| Sensors | Wrist camera, head camera, force sensors |
Software
| SDK Support | Yes |
| ROS Compatible | Yes |
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