A quote for moving a loaded cart can look cheaper than a quote for loading it and moving it. Until the excluded handoffs are priced, the comparison tells you little.
Split the job into loading, transport and combined handling before selecting a robot. For repeatable work at one station, investigate a fixed arm. For moving staged material, include an autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Consider mobile manipulation when the same system must both handle objects and travel; that system need not be humanoid.
What work does the quote include?
The English/Japanese vendor worksheet includes a fictional clarification: transport is included, cart loading and unloading remain the plant’s responsibility. The supplier agrees to put the exclusion in a revised scope sheet by September 19, 2026.
That proposal cannot yet be compared with a combined loading-and-transport bid. Use the quote comparison sheet to price the same completed job, including manual handoffs. “Who puts the parts on and takes them off?” can change the purchase case.
Five examples to investigate
| Example | Published scope—and the application question |
|---|---|
| UR20 | Fixed arm: 20 kg payload, 25 kg extended; 1,750 mm reach. Check limits with the actual tool, part, center of gravity and motion. |
| FANUC CRX-10iA | Fixed arm: 10 kg, 1,249 mm reach. Check gripper, fixture and station geometry. |
| MiR250 | Mobile platform: up to 250 kg transported load; modules separate. Who loads, unloads and transfers material? |
| Agility Digit | GXO’s June 2024 commercial tote-handling agreement. Match totes, transfer heights, interventions and service terms. |
| Figure at BMW | Figure 02 customer pilot; separate Figure 03 sequencing demo in June 2026. Which hardware, behavior and evidence does the offer cover? |
Sources: UR20 , CRX-10iA , MiR250 , GXO agreement , BMW pilot report and Figure 03 announcement .
These are examples across task categories, not comparable bids. An arm’s wrist payload and a platform’s transported load measure different things. Operating evidence for Figure 02 does not establish the newer Figure 03 task.
Put the remaining human work beside the price
Request the same throughput, part variation and exception conditions from each bidder. Include tooling, fixtures, mobile modules, machine/IT interfaces, installation, training, maintenance and spares. Name who handles blocked destinations, failed picks and recovery, including remote assistance.
The complete application needs a qualified assessment covering tooling and workpieces; “cobot” branding does not establish installation safety. UR application guidance .
Use the worksheet to return one comparable scope sheet from each vendor. Then define the pilot output and staffing evidence needed before adding another shift.
Public sources checked September 6, 2026. VoicePing publishes this procurement guide; no robot trials or comparable installation quotes are claimed.
Sources and service screenshots (5)
Public reference pages captured September 6, 2026.
