Build Your Next Manipulation Research Platform with the New Agility R7

A robotics project can change considerably between its first experiment and its next development stage. A basic grasping task may grow into coordinated two-arm manipulation. A new object may require a different gripper. A revised control strategy may need closer integration with the hardware.

Agility R7, newly available from FOXTECH, is designed for teams building and adapting their own robotic systems. Its combination of seven-axis motion, joint torque sensing, and software development support makes it a platform to consider for manipulation research and application prototyping.

Start with the Task You Want to Explore

The Agility R7 product video illustrates a broad range of manipulation concepts, from arranging small blocks and handling fruit to transferring cartons and interacting with retail shelves.

For a research team, these scenarios lead to different questions. How should the arm approach an object? What happens when contact occurs? When would two arms provide a more useful setup than one?

Agility R7 supports single- and dual-arm integration, allowing the hardware arrangement to follow the research objective. The video also presents a 14-DOF dual-arm configuration for exploring coordinated movement.

Each arm has a rated payload of 7 kg, a reach of 714 mm, and position repeatability of ±0.03 mm.

Develop Within a Familiar Robotics Software Stack

Software access matters when a project involves custom motion planning, controller development, or experimental task sequences.

Agility R7’s EtherCAT-based control architecture supports:

• Ubuntu 22.04

• ROS 2 Humble

• ros2_control

• MoveIt 2

• C++ SDK development

For teams already using these tools, the supported stack provides a starting point for connecting the arm to their development workflow. Researchers can build and evaluate application logic around their chosen perception, planning, and control components.

Explore How the Robot Responds to Contact

Manipulation experiments often become more demanding when an object touches a fixture, another object, or the work surface.

Full-joint torque sensing and compliant force control make physical interaction a central part of the R7 platform. Developers can use these capabilities when investigating contact behavior and refining how an arm moves through an operation.

In a two-arm research setup, potential experiments could include holding an object with one arm while positioning a tool with the other, or coordinating both arms around a shared workpiece. These are application development opportunities that depend on the selected tooling and control implementation.

Adapt the Hardware as the Project Evolves

Changing the end-effector can open up a different set of experiments without changing the entire research objective.

Agility R7 offers interfaces for peripheral integration, while internal cable routing helps organize power and communication connections. Grippers and dexterous hands are available separately, giving teams the flexibility to select tooling for their own objects and tasks.

A simple gripper may suit an initial handling study. A more specialized tool may be appropriate when the project moves toward assembly or service interaction.

From an Initial Experiment to a Broader System

Agility R7 gives robotics teams a new option for developing manipulation hardware around their own goals.

Whether the next step is a single-arm test bench, a bimanual research platform, or integration into a larger robot, the focus remains practical: establish the movement, develop the interaction, and refine the system through testing.