A little confused at Robot pricing.....
WBA Consulting
Posts: 2,934
I keep seeing an article for the Elektor Proton Robot in Elektor magazine and I keep getting stumped at the pricing. I have been meaning to post this for a while now and finally remembered when I saw it in the latest issue again. It has some really cool features for a small robot. However, how does anyone justify the $1,745 for the kit or $2,375 for an assembled robot with it's feature list? What am I missing?
https://www.elektor.com/projects/elektor-proton-robot.1772441.lynkx
ps. It does say that it is limited to a run of 50 robots. Does that make it extra special?
https://www.elektor.com/projects/elektor-proton-robot.1772441.lynkx
ps. It does say that it is limited to a run of 50 robots. Does that make it extra special?
250 x 300 - 33K
Comments
Great question. I guess you really pay for exclusivity in Europe, mais oui?
My gut feel is that those robots are headed for a shelf to gather dust. Anyone with the skills to use all of its features has the skills to build their own for much less money.
Seriously, these types of robots for classroom instruction tend to be really expensive. They're more for controlled curriculum than hobby use, and as the teachers aren't always well versed in all things robotics, they'll spend more to have something complete. I'm sure they're provided to Elektor at a distributor discount, who ups the margin by 40% or so, making the wholesale price about $1200, give or take. That would be my guess.
I recognize several of the pieces he's using. The motor drive components are from Devantech, and costs about $150. It uses three Sharp IR sensors at about $15 each, an SRF02 ultrasonic sensor that goes for about $15, etc. The "face board" is a custom PCB, and given the size I imagine it probably costs $30-40. The body is machined cast acrylic, with a custom bend job for the clear plastic -- probably costs $45-65 for just the body. The gripper pieces are from Lynxmotion, and they go for $20 each, including the HS-422 servos ($40 for the pair). If you consider the scale of some of its components (the wheels are about 4" in diameter), the robot is actually quite large.
$1,700+ seems like a lot, and most any of us could build this for less, but not a heck of a lot less (maybe $500-700), not including engineering time.
-- Gordon
Make me an offer on this pair of two year old prodigies!
New BOE-BOT $149.00
New EDDIE Bot $999.00
Time with his two precious little Girls $PRICELESS
My, how fast they grow-up. It seems just like yesterday they were born and you were sharing videos with us. How blessed by God you are my friend.
Tony