A desktop 4-axis educational robotic manipulator with a machine vision camera, tool-free interchangeable end effectors and block and Python programming, for teaching robotics, automation and artificial intelligence in schools.
The Labotrix Arm R1 is a desktop multifunctional educational robotic manipulator for the practical study of the fundamentals of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence algorithms in educational institutions. It is used in computer science and technology lessons and in club and project work to teach block and text programming and to study coordinate systems and the kinematics of a manipulator. The machine vision camera supplied with the product works together with the software to run artificial intelligence algorithms that recognise objects, colours and gestures, and the manipulator then performs a movement based on the result of that recognition. The Python text programming environment allows students to implement and test their own motion control algorithms, such as conditional logic, decision trees and action sequence planning, within an advanced computer science course. Through the control box the manipulator works with a personal computer or a tablet over a wired USB connection or a wireless Bluetooth channel, transmitting data on its state in real time and receiving commands for motion control and for the display of processes.
The manipulator has 4 degrees of freedom, joints J1 to J4: the rotating base, the upper arm, the forearm and the rotation of the end effector unit. The rotation range is from -135 to +135 degrees for the base, from -5 to +80 degrees for the upper arm, from -10 to +85 degrees for the forearm and from -135 to +135 degrees for the end effector. Maximum reach, that is the radius of the working area, is 340 mm, maximum payload is 250 g, positioning repeatability is ±0.2 mm and the product weighs 2.4 kg. The mains supply is 100-240 V alternating current at 50/60 Hz, the power input is 12 V direct current, 5 A, and maximum power consumption is 60 W. The operating temperature range is from -5 to +45 °C. Communication with a personal computer or tablet runs over USB as a virtual serial port, and the control box adds a Bluetooth wireless channel. The control box is built on a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller and carries two switched 12 V power interfaces with a current of 3 A, two 10-pin multifunctional communication connectors, six general-purpose input and output interfaces and two stepper motor interfaces, so the manipulator works in an ecosystem with additional expansion modules such as sensors and machine vision systems. Programming is available as block programming for beginners and as text scripts in Python for advanced study.
Safety functions are built into the product. If the permissible force on a joint drive is exceeded for a long time, the control box controller automatically reduces or removes power from that drive. A collision of a link with an obstacle is detected by the deviation of the actual position from the set trajectory, and the drive stops automatically with a signal from the indicator on the base; the light-emitting diodes on the base also signal when a joint leaves the working area. A set sequence of commands can be replayed on a digital model of the manipulator on the computer screen before it is run on the product itself, which lets errors in a trajectory be spotted in advance. End effectors, namely the suction cup with a built-in air pump, the pneumatic gripper and the holder for a pen or marker, are fitted into the socket at the end of the forearm without any tool, until the latch clicks. A release button on the forearm unlocks the drives so the manipulator can be moved by hand and the position reached can be recorded as a programme point. The machine vision camera has a 1/4-inch 1 MP matrix and delivers 1280 x 720 pixels at 30 frames per second, with supported frame sizes of 240 x 320, 640 x 480 and 1280 x 720 and YUV or MJPG compression; it turns from 0 to 135 degrees relative to its mount, connects to the control box over USB 2.0, runs on 5 V direct current, operates from 0 to +50 °C, measures 50 x 44 x 25 mm and has a built-in microphone and a lens that gives an image free of geometric distortion.
The set includes the manipulator arm with a built-in air pump – 1 pc, the control box – 1 pc, a suction cup set with a 20 mm suction cup as the default end effector – 1 pc, a pneumatic gripper set with a maximum jaw opening of 50 mm – 1 pc, a replaceable holder for a pen or marker for shafts 8 to 12 mm in diameter complete with its mount – 1 set, a 12 V / 5 A power supply with a mains cable – 1 pc, a USB cable for connection to a computer – 1 pc, a power cable and a communication cable for connecting the manipulator to the control box – 1 pc each, a machine vision camera with its connection cable – 1 set, the access right to the online course with the AI assistant, that is the licence – 1 pc, the operating instructions – 1 set, the passport with the warranty card – 1 pc, and individual transport packaging – 1 pc. The product is supplied assembled in an individual hard case with fixing inserts for the manipulator and the accessories, and needs only the chosen end effector to be fitted into the socket on the forearm and the camera to be connected to the control box. A guide rail for extending the working area, additional sensors, a conveyor, a joystick and other ecosystem modules are not part of this set and are supplied separately.
The product is supplied with the access right to an online teaching support course hosted in a learning management system and designed for 70 academic hours of lessons, compiled to the current curricula of general secondary education institutions of Ukraine. The materials are grouped into research modules in physics, biology, chemistry, STEM and robotics, and every topic contains a lesson plan, a list of the equipment required, a scenario for running the experiment, step-by-step instructions for the laboratory work with an explanation of the expected result, a video demonstration of working techniques, interactive exercises and tasks for independent work, suitable both for individual and for group work. All modules are compiled for this same equipment and tested on it, so the course follows a direct chain from equipment to teaching method to learning outcomes. The kit includes an AI assistant built into the learning management system on retrieval-augmented generation. It selects research tasks and experiments matching the topic of the lesson, describes the procedure of the experiment step by step, identifies typical student errors and gives personalised recommendations for correcting them, adapts task difficulty to different levels of student preparation, supports students in compiling reports on research results and in structuring the conclusions drawn from experiments, and works on a localised knowledge base aligned with the national curriculum of Ukraine. The licence for the course and the software is valid for 12 months; content, interface and learning materials are in Ukrainian.
The manipulator is intended for educational work in general secondary education institutions and is used only under the control and supervision of a teacher; the recommended age of students is from 10 years, that is grade 5 and above. It is placed on a level stable surface with the whole working area within the maximum reach kept clear of foreign objects, and hands are kept out of the working area while the links are moving. The product is connected only to the standard power supply, and cables or an end effector are fitted and removed only with the product fully switched off. The housing, the links and the control box are wiped with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth; corrosive cleaning agents are not used and anodised parts are not immersed in liquid. Store the manipulator, the control box and the accessories in a dry room at a temperature from +5 to +40 °C and relative humidity of 80 percent without condensation, away from dust, direct sunlight and sharp temperature changes. The service life of the product is 5 years and the warranty period is 12 months from the date of sale. The operating documentation is in Ukrainian.
