Sawyer
Smart collaborative robot for precise automation tasks
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Sawyer is a single-arm collaborative robot developed by Rethink Robotics, designed for high-precision tasks in manufacturing and research environments. With 7 degrees of freedom, an integrated vision system, and compliant actuators, it can safely work alongside humans performing machine tending, circuit board testing, packaging, and light assembly. The robot features an embedded Cognex camera in its wrist for visual feedback and uses Intera software for intuitive training and programming.
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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- customer confirmed
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- 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.
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Overview
Sawyer represents Rethink Robotics' evolution in collaborative robotics, building upon the lessons learned from their earlier Baxter robot. Designed as a single-arm solution, Sawyer focuses on delivering higher precision and faster cycle times for tasks that require dexterity and accuracy in manufacturing environments. The robot's distinctive red design and integrated display screen make it instantly recognizable on factory floors.
At the core of Sawyer's capabilities is its 7-DOF arm that provides human-like flexibility and range of motion, enabling it to work in tight spaces and reach around obstacles. The robot incorporates compliant actuators with embedded force sensing in every joint, allowing it to safely respond to contact and collaborate with human workers without requiring safety caging. This design philosophy emphasizes adaptability and ease of deployment in existing production lines.
Sawyer runs on Intera 5 software platform, which enables users to train the robot through demonstration rather than traditional programming. The embedded wrist camera provides visual feedback for part location and inspection, while the Click Smart gripper system allows for quick end-effector changes. This combination of hardware and software makes Sawyer accessible to manufacturers who may not have dedicated robotics programming expertise.
Key Features
- 7 degrees of freedom: Human-like arm flexibility for reaching around obstacles and working in confined spaces
- Embedded Cognex vision: Integrated wrist camera enables part location, inspection, and visual servoing without external vision systems
- Compliant actuators: Series elastic actuators with force sensing in every joint enable safe human collaboration
- Intera software platform: Train-by-demonstration interface allows operators to program tasks without coding expertise
- Click Smart gripper interface: Quick-change end-effector system for rapid tooling changes between applications
- 1260mm reach with 4kg payload: Extended reach for machine tending and material handling applications
- Zero-gravity mode: Allows manual positioning and teaching of waypoints by physically moving the arm
Applications
Sawyer excels in manufacturing applications that require precision and repeatability, including machine tending for CNC machines and injection molding, circuit board testing and handling, packaging and kitting operations, and light assembly tasks. The robot's integrated vision system makes it particularly well-suited for tasks requiring part inspection, pick-and-place operations with variable part locations, and quality control processes. Industries adopting Sawyer include electronics manufacturing, automotive components, consumer goods, plastics manufacturing, and metal fabrication.
Beyond traditional manufacturing, Sawyer has found applications in research laboratories and educational institutions exploring collaborative robotics and automation. The robot's ROS compatibility and open SDK have made it popular in academic settings for robotics research, while its ease of programming appeals to small and medium-sized manufacturers looking to automate without extensive robotics expertise or capital investment in safety infrastructure.
Technical Highlights
Sawyer's technical innovation centers on its Series Elastic Actuator (SEA) technology, which incorporates springs between the motor and the joint output. This design provides inherent compliance, accurate force control, and the ability to safely interact with humans and the environment. Each of the seven joints includes embedded position, velocity, and torque sensors that enable sophisticated control algorithms and real-time force feedback, making the robot responsive to unexpected contact.
The integration of Cognex machine vision directly into the wrist represents a significant advancement in cobots, eliminating the need for external camera systems and simplifying deployment. Combined with the Intera software's adaptive behavior engine, Sawyer can adjust to part variations and environmental changes on the fly. The robot's 0.1mm repeatability, while not matching traditional industrial robots, provides sufficient precision for most collaborative applications while maintaining the safety and adaptability advantages of compliant actuation.
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
Mechanics
| Degrees of Freedom | 7 |
| Locomotion | Stationary |
Performance
| 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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