Processor: On-Board Ubuntu-Linux Controller PC

Manufacturer: Rethink Robotics

Year: 2012

Donor: Private, 2025

Baxter is an innovative two-armed industrial robot.  It was created by a Boston company called Rethink Robotics in 2012, and today is no longer in production.  Our unit was previously used in the company's research lab and was then acquired by a former employee and kindly donated to RICM.

On its base, Baxter is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 300 pounds.  It was targeted toward small to medium production lines to help with sorting and packing jobs, such as on a conveyor belt.  Although the robot may be programmed with the popular Robot Operating System (ROS), it may also be taught a motion with the user posing it manually and then setting "waypoints."  As the sequence runs, the robot then moves from one "waypoint" position to the next to mimic the motion.

To check it out, call over one of the RICM staff.  And even though Baxter is designed to be gentle, stay back for safety!