Overview
Kinova is a service robotics company co-founded in 2006 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada by Charles Deguire and Louis-Joseph L’Ecuyer, originally starting with the development of assistive robot arms for people with upper body disabilities. The company was founded when co-founder Charles Deguire was inspired by the robot arm that his uncle Jacques Forest (nicknamed “Jaco”), who was living in a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy, had built in the 1980s using windshield wiper motors, bicycle wires, and lamp parts. Jacques passed away in 1993, but the first product ‘Jaco’ was named after his nickname. (Wikipedia, IEEE Spectrum)
Currently, Kinova has expanded its business into three areas: Assistive, Research, and Industrial, and is used in over 50 countries worldwide and in more than 500 academic and industrial research centers. It has been adopted by world-leading institutions such as Google and Johns Hopkins University. (Trade Commissioner Canada)
Key Significance
- Pioneer in Assistive Robotics: Starting with wheelchair-mounted robot arms, developed technology to support daily activities (eating, grooming, taking medication, etc.) for people with upper body disabilities
- Infinite Joint Rotation: All actuators can rotate infinitely without cable wrapping limitations, maximizing manipulation freedom
- Built-in Torque Sensors: Torque sensors built into each joint support force feedback, impedance control, and safe collaborative work
- Integrated Vision System: Gen3 is a research robot arm with optional 2D/3D vision module, optimized for vision-based robot control
- Lightweight Portability: Ultra-lightweight design with installation in under 30 minutes, easy to move between research teams, projects, and environments
Product Lineup
Gen3 (Research Flagship)
| Item | Gen3 7DoF | Gen3 6DoF |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Kinova (Canada) | Kinova (Canada) |
| Degrees of Freedom | 7 DoF | 6 DoF |
| Payload | 4 kg | 4 kg |
| Reach | 902 mm | 891 mm |
| Weight | 8.2 kg | 7.2 kg |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Avg Power Consumption | 36 W | 36 W |
| Vision | Optional 2D/3D module | Optional 2D/3D module |
| IP Rating | IP33 | IP33 |
| Torque Sensors | Built into all joints | Built into all joints |
| Gripper | Robotiq 2F-85/140 compatible | Robotiq 2F-85/140 compatible |
Source: Gen3 Official Product Page, QVIRO Gen3 Specifications
Gen3 Lite (Education/Entry-level)
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Kinova (Canada) |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 DoF |
| Payload | 0.5 kg |
| Reach | 760 mm |
| Weight | 5.4 kg |
| Max Speed | 250 mm/s |
| Control Frequency | 1 kHz low-level closed loop |
| Avg Power | 20 W |
| IP Rating | IP22 |
| Controller | Built into arm |
| Gripper | Built into arm |
| Setup Time | Under 10 minutes |
Source: Gen3 Lite Official Product Page, QVIRO Gen3 Lite Specifications
Link 6 (Industrial Collaborative Robot)
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Kinova (Canada) |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 DoF |
| Payload | 6 kg |
| Reach | 1000 mm |
| Repeatability | +/-0.1 mm |
| Max Speed | 1.65 m/s (1650 mm/s) |
| Weight | 23.45 kg (robot arm) |
| Controller Weight | 17.6 kg |
| Processor | Intel Core i7, 8 GB DDR4, 128 GB SSD |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Operating Temperature | 0~40 °C |
| Power Supply | 110-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz |
| Force/Torque Sensor | Built-in |
| Features | GPU expansion option, No-code programming |
Source: QVIRO Link 6 Specifications, Kinova Link 6 Press Release
Software and API Support
Kortex API
Kinova Kortex is the common software platform for the Gen3 product family (Gen3, Gen3 Lite), using Google Protocol Buffer message objects for client-server data exchange.
Supported Languages and Environments:
- Python
- C++
- MATLAB / Simulink
- ROS (ros_kortex)
- ROS2 (ros2_kortex)
ROS2 Support
The ros2_kortex driver implements a ros2_control hardware interface (SystemInterface), providing position, velocity, and effort interfaces for each joint. Twist interface for end-effector is also supported.
Supported ROS2 Versions:
- ROS2 Jazzy (Ubuntu 24.04) - main branch
- ROS2 Humble (Ubuntu 22.04)
Supported Grippers:
- Robotiq 2F-85
- Robotiq 2F-140
- Gen3 Lite 2F (built-in)
VLA Research Applications
Kinova Gen3 is being used as a core platform for VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model research:
- “Towards Generalist Robot Policies: What Matters in Building Vision-Language-Action Models” (2024): Experiments on 20 tasks (opening, closing, button pressing, Pick & Place, etc.) with Gen3 7DoF + Robotiq 2F-85 combination (arXiv:2412.14058)
- Reinforcement Learning Research: RL-based control research for dynamic equilibrium tasks such as ball balancing and collision avoidance (IRJMS 2024)
- Mobile Manipulation: Integrated with Clearpath Robotics mobile platforms for mobile manipulation research
- Vision-based Manipulation: Vision-based robot control research using optional 2D/3D vision module
Research Suitability:
- Lightweight design for quick installation/movement in various environments
- Open API for easy custom control algorithm implementation
- Delicate manipulation with torque sensor-based force control
- Easy integration with existing research ecosystem through ROS/ROS2 support
Pricing (Estimated)
| Model | Estimated Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Gen3 7DoF | 25,000–35,000 |
| Gen3 6DoF | 20,000–30,000 |
| Gen3 Lite | 10,000–15,000 |
| Link 6 | Contact for quote |
Prices vary by configuration, region, and vendor. For accurate pricing, contact official site.
References
Official Materials
GitHub Repositories
- ros2_kortex - ROS2 driver
- ros_kortex - ROS driver
- Kortex API - API examples and documentation
External References
- Kinova - Wikipedia
- Trade Commissioner Canada - Kinova
- QVIRO Link 6 Specifications
- Link 6 Press Release (PRNewswire)
Research Papers
- Towards Generalist Robot Policies (arXiv:2412.14058)
- Reinforcement Learning-Based Collision Avoidance (IRJMS 2024)