Sarcos Guardian S

Was $60,000

Discontinued · unavailableNot programmableTracked snakeMagnetic wall climbingStair climbingDiscontinued

UnavailableShipping: Discontinued.

Remote control: Not possible. Driven only from the Sarcos tablet/handheld operator control unit.

LEARN MORE (Robots Guide, IEEE Spectrum) ↗

Overview

A tough, hand-carried snake-like tracked robot for industrial inspection, bomb squads and search and rescue that could climb stairs, slide up steel doors on magnetic tracks and crawl into pipes. It was one of the few snake robots sold commercially. Sarcos pivoted to AI software in 2023 and renamed itself Palladyne AI in 2024, so the Guardian S is no longer offered.

Type: Crawling robot · Snake robots
Maker: Sarcos Robotics (USA, now Palladyne AI)
Released: 2017
Price: Was $60,000
Status: Discontinued · unavailable
Best for: Professionals & labs
Programming: No programmability

Price and shipping

List price per IEEE Spectrum's Robots Guide. A robot-as-a-service monthly plan was also offered.

Shipping: Discontinued. Discontinued after Sarcos left the hardware business in 2023. Units were sold to industrial and public-safety customers and rarely resurface.

Specifications

Category	Crawlers, snakes & climbers · Snake robots
Released	2017
Country	USA
Availability	Discontinued · unavailable
Programmability	No programmability
Built-in autonomy	None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions
LLM support	None · No built-in LLM and no SDK to connect one.
Best for	Professionals & labs
Vision sensors	Camera
Actuators	Unknown
Audio	Microphone
Compute type	Proprietary / undisclosed
Remote control	Not programmable
Size	132 × 12 × 13.2 cm (snake mode), 7.7 kg
Locomotion	Two-segment tracked snake body with articulated middle joint, magnetized tracks for climbing steel walls
Compute	Custom embedded control, Wi-Fi with optional RF modules (915 MHz – 5.75 GHz)
Camera	Six 4K color cameras for 360° coverage, optional FLIR thermal camera
Sensors	Microphone, GPS, IMU, optional gas, vibration, HAZMAT and other third-party payloads, IP65
Runtime	147 Wh Li-ion, up to 12 h surveillance or ~3 mi (4.8 km) of travel
Speed	2.2 km/h
SDK	None public (custom OS and control software, AES-encrypted video)

Common questions

How much does Sarcos Guardian S cost?

It sold for $60,000. List price per IEEE Spectrum's Robots Guide. A robot-as-a-service monthly plan was also offered.

Can Sarcos Guardian S be bought today?

No. It is discontinued and no longer sold. Discontinued after Sarcos left the hardware business in 2023. Units were sold to industrial and public-safety customers and rarely resurface.