Two 8-DoF arms and five-finger hands
Two torque-controlled 8-DoF arms carry underactuated five-finger hands. KIT's system paper rates each arm for a 10 kg payload. [4]
Price & availability
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has not published a price
Prototype
Current dataset status: Prototype.
Product overview
About KIT ARMAR-6
KIT ARMAR-6 is a wheeled humanoid research robot from the High Performance Humanoid Technologies Lab (H²T) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It was developed in the EU SecondHands project to assist maintenance technicians in industrial settings. Its layout combines a holonomic mobile base, an extensible torso, a sensor head, two torque-controlled 8-DoF arms and underactuated five-finger hands.
KIT's 2019 system paper gives an adjustable height of 152 to 192 cm and a mass of 160 kg without batteries, plus a 40 kg battery pack. Each arm is designed to carry 10 kg at full extension. The mobile base reaches 1 m/s, while a 1.824 kWh battery supports up to four hours of autonomous operation under the stated conditions. Onboard perception includes stereo and RGB-D cameras, wrist force-torque sensing and laser scanners.
KIT describes ARMAR-6 as a collaborative assistant that can recognize when a technician needs help and can use tools made for people. The robot has been demonstrated in a warehouse and at public events, but it remains a research platform. KIT lists no commercial price or sales channel.
Capabilities
Key features
Holonomic base and telescopic torso
The upper body sits on a holonomic Mecanum-wheel base. A 40 cm torso lift changes the robot's height from 152 to 192 cm. [4]
Industrial assistant role
KIT describes ARMAR-6 as a collaborative humanoid assistant for industrial environments that can offer help proactively and use human tools such as drills and hammers. [1]
Shown at 2024 KIT events
KIT news items from 2024 show ARMAR-6 supporting maintenance work, including at Campusday and a Girls' Day event. [3]
Four-hour battery operation
A 1.824 kWh battery pack supports up to four hours of autonomous operation under the conditions reported by KIT's researchers. [4]
Hardware profile
Specifications
Official — stated by the manufacturer or organizerReported — stated by a credible third partyEstimated — derived or approximate
Body
Mobility
- Maximum speed
- 1 m/sReported — stated by a credible third party[4]Mobile-platform speed
- Peak joint torque
- 176 N·mReported — stated by a credible third party[4]Largest arm sensor-actuator-controller unit torque capacity
Power
Hands & Manipulation
- DoF per hand
- 14Reported — stated by a credible third party[4]Fourteen mechanical finger joints per underactuated hand
- Payload
- 10 kgReported — stated by a credible third party[4]Per arm at full extension
- Hand / end effector
- Two underactuated five-finger handsReported — stated by a credible third party[4]
Compute & Sensing
Show unknown fields (2)
Power
- Charge time
- Not published
- Swappable battery
- Not published
Quick answers
KIT ARMAR-6 FAQ
Can you buy KIT ARMAR-6?
No general order page is verified. KIT ARMAR-6 is currently classified as prototype. [1]
How tall is KIT ARMAR-6 and how much does it weigh?
KIT ARMAR-6 is 192 cm tall and weighs 200 kg (160 kg without batteries plus a 40 kg battery pack). [4]
How fast is KIT ARMAR-6?
Its stated maximum speed is 1 m/s; Mobile-platform speed. [4]
How long does the KIT ARMAR-6 battery last?
The stated runtime is 4 hours per charge; Up to four hours of autonomous operation. [4]
How much can KIT ARMAR-6 carry?
The listed payload is 10 kg; Per arm at full extension. [4]
How many degrees of freedom does KIT ARMAR-6 have?
KIT ARMAR-6 has 28 listed degrees of freedom; Active DoF in the 2019 system paper; an earlier 2018 paper reported 27 actuated DoF. [4]
Who makes KIT ARMAR-6?
KIT ARMAR-6 is made by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), based in Germany. [1]
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Evaluation footprint
Benchmarks & competitions
No benchmark embodiments or results reference this robot yet.
Related
Similar robots
Evidence
Sources
- [1]ARMAR Family (KIT H²T) ↗Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), High Performance Humanoid Technologies Lab (H²T) · official · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [2]KIT ARMAR-6 humanoid (IEEE Spectrum, Evan Ackerman) ↗IEEE Spectrum · press · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [3]Welcome to H²T (KIT H²T homepage, news items) ↗Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), High Performance Humanoid Technologies Lab (H²T) · official · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [4]ARMAR-6: A High-Performance Humanoid for Human-Robot Collaboration in Real-World Scenarios ↗IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine / Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · paper · accessed Oct 8, 2026