Why Rent Instead of Buy?
Robot rental makes sense for teams that need hardware access without the $5K-$150K purchase commitment. Common scenarios where rental is the right decision:
- Research exploration: You want to evaluate whether a particular robot platform suits your research before committing to a purchase. A 1-week rental of an OpenArm 101 costs a fraction of the $4,500 purchase price and lets you test ROS2 integration, payload limits, and data collection workflows.
- Short-term data collection: You need 500-2,000 demonstrations for a specific task but do not need the robot permanently. Rent the hardware, collect your data, return it. SVRC can also provide full-service data collection if you prefer not to operate the hardware yourself.
- Event demonstrations: Trade shows, investor demos, and corporate events often need a working robot for 1-3 days. Renting is 10-20x cheaper than buying for this use case.
- Proof of concept: Before committing to a fleet purchase for warehouse or manufacturing deployment, rent 1-2 units for a 30-day pilot to validate throughput and reliability metrics.
- Teaching and training: University courses, workshops, and corporate training programs need robots for defined periods -- typically a semester (4 months) or a 1-week intensive workshop.
Available Robots for Rental
| Robot | Type | Key Specs | Daily Rate | Weekly Rate | Monthly Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenArm 101 | 6-DOF Robot Arm | 500g payload, ROS2, 0.1mm repeatability | $150 | $600 | $1,800 | Manipulation research, data collection, education |
| DK1 Bimanual System | Dual-arm teleoperation | 2x leader + 2x follower arms, ACT-compatible | $400 | $1,800 | $5,500 | Bimanual data collection, imitation learning research |
| Unitree G1 | Humanoid | 127 cm, 35 kg, 23 DOF, walking + manipulation | $500 | $2,500 | $8,000 | Humanoid research, events, whole-body control |
| Unitree Go2 | Quadruped | 12 DOF, 4 kg payload, LIDAR, ROS2 | $250 | $1,200 | $3,500 | Navigation research, inspection, events |
| Paxini Tactile Sensors | Sensor add-on | High-res tactile arrays, ROS2 driver | $75 | $300 | $800 | Tactile sensing research, grasp quality evaluation |
| Orca Hand | Dexterous Hand | Multi-finger, force-controlled, ROS2 | $200 | $900 | $2,500 | Dexterous manipulation, glove teleoperation |
All rental pricing includes basic technical support (email + phone during business hours). Extended support, on-site technician assistance, and operator training are available as add-ons.
Rental Process
The rental process from initial inquiry to hardware in your hands typically takes 3-7 business days.
- Inquiry and requirements review (Day 1): Contact us with your robot preference, rental duration, and intended use case. We confirm availability and provide a detailed quote including any add-ons (cameras, sensors, compute).
- Agreement and deposit (Day 2-3): Sign the rental agreement (covers liability, return condition, insurance). Pay a refundable security deposit (typically 20% of the robot's purchase price) plus the first period's rental fee.
- Configuration and testing (Day 3-5): We configure the robot to your specifications -- install any requested software, calibrate cameras, update firmware, and run a full functional test. For data collection setups, we pre-configure the HDF5 logging pipeline and camera mounts.
- Delivery or pickup (Day 5-7): Local pickup from our Mountain View facility is free. We also offer delivery within the Bay Area ($150-$300 depending on distance). For shipping beyond the Bay Area, see the Shipping section below.
- Orientation session (included): A 1-hour video call or on-site session covering hardware operation, safety procedures, basic troubleshooting, and your specific use case setup. For humanoids (G1), an extended 2-hour on-site orientation is required.
- Support during rental: Email and phone support during business hours (9am-6pm PT). Emergency support line for hardware malfunctions. Remote diagnostic access via SSH if you grant it.
- Return and inspection: Return the robot in its original case. We inspect for damage beyond normal wear. Security deposit is refunded within 5 business days if the robot passes inspection.
Common Rental Use Cases
Research and Development
The most common rental use case. Research teams rent hardware to evaluate platforms before purchasing, to collect specific datasets, or to access hardware they cannot justify buying for a single project.
- Platform evaluation (1-2 weeks): Rent an OpenArm 101 to test whether its 500g payload, ROS2 interface, and 6-DOF kinematics meet your manipulation research needs before committing to a purchase.
- Data collection campaign (2-4 weeks): Rent a DK1 bimanual system for a focused data collection sprint. Collect 1,000-5,000 demonstrations, then return the hardware. Combine with our operator services if you need trained teleoperators.
- Multi-platform comparison (1-2 weeks): Rent an OpenArm 101 and a Unitree G1 simultaneously to compare manipulation capabilities for your specific task before deciding which platform to adopt.
Events and Demonstrations
Robots at events create memorable impressions. Rental for events includes pre-event testing and a canned demo program so the robot performs reliably without a robotics expert on-site.
- Trade shows: 1-3 day rental with pre-programmed demonstration sequences. We can program a custom demo showcasing your product or use case.
- Corporate events: Unitree Go2 quadruped is the most popular event rental -- it walks, follows people, and performs tricks that engage non-technical audiences.
- Investor demonstrations: Show investors a working prototype of your application on real hardware. We provide a technician to operate the robot during the demo ($200/hr).
Education and Training
Universities, bootcamps, and corporate training programs rent robots for hands-on learning experiences.
- Semester rental (4 months): Monthly rate applies. Includes curriculum guidance for ROS2 and manipulation courses. The OpenArm 101 is our most popular education rental -- its open-source ROS2 stack aligns with standard robotics curricula.
- Workshop rental (1 week): For intensive workshops, we provide pre-configured robots with tutorial materials. Groups of 5+ robots receive a 15% discount.
Shipping Options
While local Bay Area pickup and delivery are simplest, we ship robots nationwide and internationally.
| Shipping Method | Coverage | Typical Transit | Cost (Robot Arm) | Cost (Humanoid/Quadruped) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local pickup | Mountain View, CA | Same day | Free | Free |
| Bay Area delivery | SF, South Bay, East Bay, Peninsula | Same/next day | $150 | $300 |
| Continental US (ground) | Lower 48 states | 3-5 business days | $200-$400 | $500-$800 |
| East Coast (from Allston, MA) | Northeast US | 1-3 business days | $150-$300 | $400-$600 |
| International | Global (export restrictions apply) | 5-10 business days | $500-$1,200 | $1,000-$2,500 |
All robots ship in custom Pelican-style cases with foam inserts. Shipping insurance is included in the rental fee. East Coast customers can also rent from our Allston, MA facility for faster delivery.
Rental Add-Ons
- Camera kit ($50/week): Intel RealSense D405 wrist camera + Logitech BRIO overhead camera + camera mounts. Pre-calibrated for the rented robot.
- Compute workstation ($200/week): RTX 4090 workstation with Ubuntu 22.04, ROS2 Humble, and all drivers pre-installed. Includes 2TB NVMe for data logging.
- Teleoperation kit ($100/week): Meta Quest 3 + VR teleoperation software configured for the rented robot. Ready for data collection out of the box.
- Force/torque sensor ($75/week): Robotiq FT 300-S or Bota SensONE, mounted and calibrated for the rented arm.
- On-site technician ($200/hour): SVRC technician at your location for setup, training, or event support. Minimum 2 hours. Bay Area only; travel surcharge for locations >50 miles from Mountain View.
- Operator training ($500/day): Hands-on training for your team on robot operation, teleoperation, data collection workflows, and basic troubleshooting. See our operator training guide for curriculum details.
Rental vs. Purchase vs. Leasing
| Factor | Rental | Purchase | Leasing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low (deposit + first period) | Full purchase price | First month's lease payment |
| Typical duration | 1 day to 3 months | Permanent | 6-24 months |
| Maintenance | Included in rental | Your responsibility | Included in lease |
| Ownership at end | Return hardware | You own it | Purchase option at residual value |
| Best for | Short-term, evaluation, events | Known long-term need | 6+ month projects, fleet building |
Rule of thumb: If you need the robot for less than 3 months, rent. If 3-6 months, compare monthly rental cost to lease payment -- leasing is usually cheaper at 4+ months. If 6+ months, lease or buy. If uncertain, start with a 1-week rental to validate before committing to a longer term.
Rental Terms and Policies
- Minimum rental period: 1 day for arms and sensors, 2 days for humanoids and quadrupeds (due to setup/orientation requirements).
- Security deposit: 20% of the robot's retail purchase price, refundable upon return in good condition. Charged to credit card on file, not drawn unless damage is assessed.
- Insurance: Basic coverage for accidental damage is included. Extended coverage for full replacement value is available at 5% of the rental fee.
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the rental start date. Within 48 hours, a 50% cancellation fee applies.
- Extension: Rentals can be extended at the daily or weekly rate by contacting us before the return date. Extensions are subject to availability.
- Damage responsibility: Normal wear is expected and covered. Damage beyond normal wear (physical damage, water exposure, unauthorized modification) is the renter's responsibility, assessed against the security deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need robotics experience to rent? No, but some robots require more expertise than others. The OpenArm 101 and Go2 are accessible to beginners with the included orientation session. The G1 humanoid and DK1 bimanual require intermediate ROS2 knowledge or an on-site technician.
- Can I rent remotely (outside the Bay Area)? Yes. We ship nationwide and internationally. East Coast customers can also rent from our Allston, MA facility.
- Is the rental hardware the same as what I would purchase? Yes. Rental units are maintained to the same standard as new hardware. We replace components proactively based on our preventive maintenance schedule.
- Can I apply rental fees toward a purchase? Yes. If you decide to purchase within 30 days of returning a rental, we credit up to 50% of the rental fees paid toward the purchase price.
- What if the robot breaks during my rental? Contact our support line immediately. For hardware malfunctions not caused by misuse, we replace the unit or provide a credit for the downtime period.
Related Guides
- Robot Leasing -- for longer-term needs (6-24 months)
- How to Set Up a Teleoperation Lab -- equipment needed alongside the rented robot
- Robot Arm Buyer's Guide 2025 -- comparing platforms if you decide to purchase
- Data Services -- if you would rather SVRC operate the hardware for you
- Hardware Catalog -- all available products for purchase or rental