OpenArm: An open-source 7DOF humanoid arm

OpenArm is a fully open‑source, seven‑degree‑of‑freedom humanoid arm created specifically for physical AI research and deployment in environments that require frequent contact. The platform emphasizes high backdrivability and compliance to ensure safe interaction with humans while still offering practical payload capacities suitable for real‑world tasks. Priced at US$6,500 for a complete bimanual system, OpenArm can be obtained either pre‑assembled or as a DIY kit, and it is supported by a standardized “OpenArm Cell” that provides uniform background, lighting, and camera placement to enable reproducible experiments worldwide.

The arm’s design targets researchers needing a versatile tool for teleoperation, imitation learning, simulation, and data collection in contact‑rich scenarios. Its human‑scale dimensions and safety‑focused compliance make it appropriate for studies that involve direct human‑robot collaboration, while the open‑source nature encourages contributions from the global robotics community. The project also offers a curated list of verified manufacturers, and participation is governed by a Code of Conduct to maintain a collaborative and responsible development environment.

Developers and institutions are invited to join the initiative as contributors, research partners, or corporate collaborators, with the goal of shaping the next generation of practical humanoid systems. By providing a consistent evaluation environment through the OpenArm Cell, the platform aims to foster worldwide discussion and accelerate advances in physical AI, allowing experiments conducted in one lab to be reliably reproduced elsewhere.

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