Looking for a great robotic arm to demonstrate model-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop use cases?
One of the best affordable open-source options I have found (took some time) for MBSE and Digital Engineering demonstrations is the LeRobot SO-101:
In this video, I demonstrate the arm operating in teleoperation mode, where the lead arm is followed in real time by the teleoperated arm:
https://youtu.be/yw-dROMVoB4?si=SWaIIk1AVR9Tb4LK
I also show how SysML model-in-the-loop execution in CATIA Magic /Cameo can be connected through a fast FMI/FMU-based interface (generated by Dymola).
The major value of this robotic arm is affordability - around \\\$500 e.g. at Amazon - compared with thousands of dollars for many similar alternatives. But affordability is only part of the story. The openness, power, community, and rapid growth around this ecosystem make it especially interesting for Digital Engineering demonstrations.
Some possible use cases include:
• Requirements V&V
• Logic updates from the model
• Simulation and analysis
• Model-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop demonstrations
• Robotics and machine learning workflows
e.g. https://youtu.be/oitT8geMat0?si=PICFxzO2tVhCrx4b
With hundreds of startups entering robotics, including humanoid robotics, this area is exploding with interest.
Do you know any better affordable robotic arm solutions for MBSE, Digital Engineering, or robotics demonstrations? Please share in the comments.
Come to MBSE event of the year CUSA, in RENO NV May 18 -21 to discuss this project in details - https://events.3ds.com/catia-user-symposium-americas-mcss-2026
Files [unzip]:
Installation instructions:
