DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

Baxter

Rethink Robotics' Baxter, introduced in 2012, was a dual-arm collaborative robot with an animated-face display, designed for safe operation alongside workers…

Track Baxter
Manufacturer
Rethink Robotics
Form factor
cobot
Maturity
research
Lifecycle
active

The verified answer

As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies Baxter, a cobot by Rethink Robotics (research). 2 sources back the record.

Appears inManufacturing robots

Overview

Rethink Robotics' Baxter, introduced in 2012, was a dual-arm collaborative robot with an animated-face display, designed for safe operation alongside workers on light manufacturing and packaging tasks; it helped pioneer the collaborative-robot category.

Verified vs. claimed

Maturity stage
research(Lab-stage only; no commercial or public deployment reported.)
Sources on file
View all sources →

No verified deployments on file. DEPLOY tracks independently-sourced deployment evidence separately from manufacturer capability claims.

Key facts

Form factor

cobot

Arms

2

Year introduced

2012

Class

dual-arm collaborative robot

Specs

Dof

7

Arms

2

Year

2012

Class

dual-arm collaborative robot

Weight kg

19

Payload kg

2.2

Data & sources

News coverage

1

Web sources

1

2 sources backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for Baxter. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

How DEPLOY tracks pricing

Baxter on the deployment map

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Where Baxter is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.

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Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Safety record

No incidents on record for Baxter.

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (2)

  1. https://spectrum.ieee.org/franka-a-robot-arm-thats-safe-low-cost-and-can-replicate-itself
  2. https://robotsguide.com/robots/sawyer

Common questions

What is Baxter?
Rethink Robotics' Baxter, introduced in 2012, was a dual-arm collaborative robot with an animated-face display, designed for safe operation alongside workers on light manufacturing and packaging tasks; it helped pioneer the collaborative-robot category.
How much does Baxter cost?
Baxter's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for Baxter from Rethink Robotics. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is Baxter actually deployed in the real world?
Baxter is at the research stage: it exists, but DEPLOY has no verified real-world deployment on record. Manufacturer capability claims should be read as claims pending independent verification.
What are the specs of Baxter?
Baxter's recorded specifications on the DEPLOY registry: Degrees of freedom: 7; Weight: 19 kg; Payload: 2.2 kg. See the Specs section for the full sourced set.
Who makes Baxter?
Baxter is made by Rethink Robotics, based in Boston, MA, founded in 2008.
Can you buy Baxter?
Baxter is at research stage and is not yet available for sale.
What are alternatives to Baxter?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable cobot robots to Baxter include UR5e, Spool Welding Robot (SWR), AUBO i5, DENSO COBOTTA.
How does Baxter compare to UR5e?
Baxter and UR5e (Universal Robots · 4 deployments) are both cobot robots on the DEPLOY registry. Baxter has 0 verified deployments on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Baxter a top cobot?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Baxter ranks in roughly the top 8% of cobot models tracked by the registry.
What is Baxter's maturity stage?
Baxter is at the research stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Research stage means active development without commercial deployments on file.
Where is Baxter deployed?
No verified deployments of Baxter are currently on the DEPLOY registry. DEPLOY records deployments only when verified at a named site with a primary source; absence may reflect pre-deployment, research, or manufacturer-internal use.
Is Baxter safe?
Baxter has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
What happened to Rethink Robotics Baxter?
Rethink Robotics shut down in 2018. The company was founded in 2008 and made collaborative robots Baxter and Sawyer. Rethink's patents and trademarks were acquired by Germany's Hahn Group. Baxter was one of the first cobots designed to work safely alongside humans.
The Robot Report: Rethink closes doors Robots Guide: Baxter
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-15

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-07-15

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: research

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: cobot

Sources by quality tier

1
secondary-industry-publication
Industry publication
1
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Baxter.

Recent coverage

Baxter in third-party press

ScottsMiracle-Gro CEO on New Growth Algorithm, Pricing

Aug 4, 2026

Baxter International's Q2 2026 Earnings: What to Expect

Jul 8, 2026

‘Check back in 15 years’: Robotics legend Rodney Brooks rejects AI hype but won’t call it a bubble - The Boston Globe

Feb 24, 2026