Dobot (Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology)

Dobot was born in June 2015 in Shenzhen. It was founded by Liu Peichao and Lang Xulin, and the first public test of the idea was a Kickstarter campaign: the desktop arm far exceeded its funding goal of 36,000 USD. The same robot, known today as the Magician, wrote calligraphy during the 2017 Chinese New Year gala on CCTV, which gave it enormous publicity in China. The company operates under the full name Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology. Starting from educational arms, it has grown toward cobots: the CR and Nova series for industry, and the MG400, a compact four-axis SCARA for desktop tasks and light assembly. In December 2024 the company listed in Hong Kong, raising 681 million HKD. Most recently Dobot has been trying its hand at humanoids: the Atom model has 28 degrees of freedom and an AI module rated at 1,500 TOPS, intended for tabletop assembly, although the manufacturer does not state its height, weight or price. Its descriptions mention an Intel RealSense D455 depth camera, which ties this model to the article on Intel RealSense. It is an interesting example of a company that grew out of education and still keeps that heritage.

Five models show the path from the student's desk to the production line. At the start stands Dobot Magician, a four-axis desktop arm (3.4 kg, 0.5 kg payload) for learning programming, 3D printing and laser engraving. Next to it is Dobot MG400, a compact SCARA (440 mm reach, 750 g payload), whose prices range from about 2,890 USD in the US to 5,649 EUR in Europe. The industrial players are the Nova cobots: Dobot Nova 2 (11 kg weight, 2 kg payload, 625 mm reach) and Dobot Nova 5 (5 kg payload, 850 mm reach), whose price at dobot.nu is 4,499 to 12,169 EUR net. The exotic entry is Dobot Atom, an industrial humanoid about which the manufacturer still says little. Dobot suits companies that want to enter automation in small steps, and is less suitable for those who need a high payload. See also educational robots and cobots. Weight and payload figures vary from model to model, so check the datasheet before buying; tips are in the article on reading technical data: “How to Read a Robot Datasheet”.

Dobot is one of the few Chinese robot makers to have gone public: in December 2024 it raised 681 million HKD in Hong Kong. Compared with Elephant Robotics, another Chinese player in compact cobots, it offers a wider range from education to commercial applications. In industrial cobots it competes with Doosan Robotics (the Nova 5 is a cheap alternative to the Doosan A0509), and with JAKA Robotics and AUBO Robotics, while in education its rival is ROBOTIS. Its use of the Atom in humanoids places it alongside Unitree Robotics, although in sales volume it is not yet in the same league. The company's strength is price and a wide range; its weaknesses are limited payload and the lack of a confirmed exclusive distributor in Poland. Context: “Educational Robots for Schools and Universities”. Keep it in perspective: the stock market listing is a fact, but it does not change the company's standing in Poland, because service depends on the local seller.

Dobot has no confirmed exclusive distributor in Poland, but its products are available through resellers. Botland and stem-polska.pl offer the Magician, asbis.pl lists the Nova 5 in its catalog, and the Magician Lite also turns up on Allegro. Dobot.nu, which serves the Benelux countries and Scandinavia, remains the European channel that Polish companies turn to for industrial models. This means that in Poland the educational versions are the easiest to buy, while for the Nova cobots you have to look for an integrator. No named deployments were found. It is worth a look at schools and universities.

Dobot is a sensible starting point for a school, a university or a company that wants to learn robotics without a big budget. Anyone looking for a cobot with a payload above a few kilograms should look toward Doosan, UR or FANUC; with the Nova, the key is to establish who in Poland will provide service. Who it is for: schools, robotics clubs, laboratories and small workshops. Before buying a Nova, ask the seller about service and spare parts.