Rethink Robotics Sawyer price & specs

Q: Can Rethink Robotics Sawyer be programmed?

Full SDK. Intera SDK (ROS with Python intera_interface) on research units, Intera 5 flowchart programming.

Rethink Robotics (USA, later HAHN Group, Germany) Rethink Robotics Sawyer (1)

Rethink Robotics (USA, later HAHN Group, Germany) Rethink Robotics Sawyer (2)

Was $29,000 (2017)

Discontinued · used/leftover onlyVia SSH / web / bridge7-DOFScreen faceIntera softwareCompany closed

Possibly ≤ 1 weekShipping: Used market.

Remote control: Research units expose a ROS interface. A Linux laptop runs intera_interface Python scripts against the robot's ROS master.

LEARN MORE (Tech specs, archived) ↗

Overview

The single-arm follow-up to Baxter, aimed at machine tending and precise small tasks. Rethink ceased operations in October 2018. The German HAHN Group bought its patents, trademarks and Intera platform and relaunched Sawyer (including a 2019 'BLACK Edition'). That German entity shut down in August 2024, and a further 2024 relaunch also failed in 2025.

Type: Robot arm · Industrial & legacy
Maker: Rethink Robotics (USA, later HAHN Group, Germany)
Released: 2015
Price: Was $29,000 (2017)
Status: Discontinued · used/leftover only
Best for: Professionals & labs
Programming: Full SDK

Price and shipping

Price reported by IEEE Spectrum in 2017.

Shipping: Used market. No longer manufactured. Used units appear from labs and resellers, with no manufacturer support after the 2024–2025 shutdowns.

Specifications

Category	Robot arms · Industrial & legacy
Released	2015
Country	USA
Availability	Discontinued · used/leftover only
Programmability	Full SDK
Built-in autonomy	Task-level · Carries out multi-step jobs on its own, such as inspections, deliveries or chores
LLM support	Possible via SDK · No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it.
MuJoCo simulation	Official model · In MuJoCo Menagerie (rethink_robotics_sawyer). MuJoCo Menagerie ↗
NVIDIA Isaac simulation	Official model · Isaac Sim asset library (RethinkRobotics/Sawyer) and an Isaac Lab SAWYER config. Isaac Lab robot configs ↗
Gazebo simulation	Official model · Rethink's sawyer_simulator runs Sawyer in Gazebo Classic with the Intera interface (ROS 1, so not rated kit). sawyer_simulator ↗
Best for	Professionals & labs
Vision sensors	Camera
Actuators	Unknown
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Proprietary / undisclosed
Remote control	Via SSH / web / bridge
DOF	7
Reach	1,260 mm
Payload	4 kg
Repeatability	±0.1 mm
Weight	19 kg (42 lb)
Controller	External controller running Intera, Modbus TCP and TCP/IP
Sensors	Series elastic actuators with Harmonic Drive and optical encoders, high-resolution force sensing at each joint, wide-view head camera and a Cognex wrist camera with built-in light
SDK	Intera SDK (ROS with Python `intera_interface`) on research units, Intera 5 flowchart programming

Common questions

How much does Rethink Robotics Sawyer cost?

It sold for $29,000 (2017). Price reported by IEEE Spectrum in 2017.

Can Rethink Robotics Sawyer be bought today?

It is discontinued, though used or leftover units still turn up. No longer manufactured. Used units appear from labs and resellers, with no manufacturer support after the 2024–2025 shutdowns.