Hey everyone,

EDI Latvia recently celebrated their 65th anniversary, and in their showcase video, they revealed their MobMan system powered by our the AR4 robotic arm. While we’ve always known the AR4 shines in classrooms worldwide, seeing it drive these kind of applications is exciting.

We’d love to hear how you’re using your AR4. Teaching a robotics class? Working on an innovative project? Just getting started? Share in the community

The AR4 6 DIY axis robot arm is an Arduino-based controller with a Python interface, offering 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF). It is widely used in educational STEM programs, industrial tasks, business startups, filming and videography applications, as well as by hobbyists and robot enthusiasts. The latest version, AR4 v6.0, introduces exciting new features, including Virtual Robot Control, which allows users to mirror movements between a 3D simulation and the real robot. It also supports Real-Time Simulation for programming and debugging without physical hardware, STL Model Import to add custom workpieces or fixtures, Robot Color Customization for personalizing the virtual AR4, and Enhanced I/O & Modbus Support for better integration with PLCs and industrial systems.

For those interested in building their own AR4 robot, all necessary files—including 3D print files, source code, manuals, and build kits—are available for download at Annin Robotics. This versatile robot is perfect for makers, schools, and small businesses, and is already being used in robotics classes at universities worldwide.

In the United States, institutions such as San José State University (SJSU) in California, Auburn University in Alabama, Texas A&M University, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mississippi State University, Boise State University in Idaho, University of Dayton in Ohio, Renton Technical College in Washington, and Skagit Valley College in Washington have incorporated the AR4 into their programs.

Internationally, the AR4 is being used at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, Politechnika Gdańska in Poland, Linköpings Universitet in Sweden, Universität Heidelberg in Germany, and Bách Khoa University in Vietnam. Additionally, high schools like Cardinal Gibbons High School in North Carolina and various Career Technical Education (CTE) programs across the U.S. are utilizing the AR4 for robotics education.

Whether for learning, prototyping, or professional applications, the AR4 provides an accessible and powerful platform for robotics innovation.

Hey everyone – I just posted a beta version of software version 5.0. In this latest version I have updated the kinematics. The new firmware has improved control and should better handle movements around robot singularities when the wrist (J5) crosses over zero degrees. Please give this new version a try and let me know if you find any issues I may have missed. Remember you need to install the ver 5.0 sketch and use the ver 5.0 exe file.