uArm Swift Is a $200 Robotic Assistant for Your Desk

You may recall the uArm from its successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2014, which raised over $250,00. Or if not, chances are you’re at least familiar with the mini desktop robotic arm from some of Simone Giertz’s viral videos. Well now, the UFACTORY team is back with two new models on Indiegogo.

The uArm Swift and Swift Pro are open source and based on the familiar Arduino platform. A bit smaller and sleeker than the original, the latest versions feature square aluminum alloys, a four-axis parallel-mechanism structure, as well as three different end-effectors (suction cup, metallic gripper, and universal holder) and a built-in socket for selected Grove boards.

Whereas the basic Swift makes for a fun tool if you’re just looking to tinker around with a robotic arm, the Pro boasts a stronger motor, more precision, and smoother control with repeatability of 0.2mm.

Although both devices can be programmed to do a number of things, such as play air hockey or act as a claw machine, the Pro is capable of more advanced functions like 3D printing, engraving, laser painting, and picking up and serving drinks. When combined with an OpenMV camera module, the arm can recognize and respond to faces, colors, and markers.

Swift and Swift Pro can be operated in various ways — either through UFACTORY’s Blockly-based uArm Studio, hand gestures, a keyboard-and-mouse setup, or using the uArm Play mobile app over Bluetooth. There is also an offline learning mode, which lets you teach it to perform tasks and have it recorded to memory.

Sound like the affordable desktop robotic arm you’ve been looking for? Head over to UFACTORY’s Indiegogo campaign.