- For those involved in robotics research, what are the most critical factors you consider before purchasing a robot? Is it price, precision, strength, speed, or something else? How do you weigh these criteria depending on your research needs?
- Performance Factors:
- How do you assess factors like precision, payload capacity, speed, and strength in relation to your specific research projects? For example, in delicate manipulation tasks, precision may outweigh speed—how do you prioritize these characteristics?
- Price vs. Performance:
- How do you strike a balance between budget constraints and the performance of the robot? Have you found that investing more in certain features (e.g., precision, sensors) is worth the cost for long-term research needs?
- Modularity and Customization:
- Is customizability an important factor for your research? Do you prefer robots that are modular and easy to adapt with different sensors, actuators, or controllers?
- Ease of Use & Software Support:
- How important are the software frameworks, APIs, and programming environments that come with the robot? Does compatibility with popular frameworks like ROS (Robot Operating System) influence your purchase decisions?
- Durability and Maintenance:
- In long-term research projects, how much do durability and ease of maintenance play a role in your decision-making? Do you prefer systems that are more rugged and built to last, even if they cost more?
- Precision and Accuracy:
- For applications like robotic surgery or fine manipulation, how do you evaluate the precision and accuracy of different robotic platforms? Are there specific metrics or benchmarks you use?
- Research Specific Needs:
- Are there specific use cases (e.g., bipedal locomotion, autonomous navigation, dexterous manipulation) that heavily influence the type of robot you choose? How do specialized requirements factor into your decision?