Hand Arm System vs i-Limb
Side-by-side comparison of Hand Arm System (German Aerospace Center (DLR)) and i-Limb (Touch Bionics) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Hand Arm SystemGermany
- i-LimbIceland
Year First Available
- Hand Arm System2010
- i-Limb2011
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Hand Arm SystemContact for quote
- i-Limb$18,000 USD
Availability Status
- Hand Arm SystemACTIVE
- i-LimbACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Hand Arm System3 kg
- i-Limb—
Reach
- Hand Arm System1,200 mm
- i-Limb—
Autonomy Level
- Hand Arm Systemfully autonomous
- i-Limbpartially autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | Iceland |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2011 |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Contact for quote | $18,000 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | 3 kg | — |
| Reach (values differ) | 1,200 mm | — |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | fully autonomous | partially autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Verified Deployments, Battery / Shift Runtime, Max Speed, IP Rating
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | Hand Arm System | i-Limb |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $18,000 |
| Payback period | — | 4.3 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | $232,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | +1289% |
Hand Arm System has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Hand Arm System and i-Limb?
Hand Arm System is made by German Aerospace Center (DLR), based in DE. i-Limb is made by Touch Bionics, based in IS.
When were Hand Arm System and i-Limb launched?
Hand Arm System launched in 2010. i-Limb launched in 2011.
How do Hand Arm System and i-Limb compare on the Robo Score?
Hand Arm System scores 57.4 on the Robo Score. i-Limb scores 63.4. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Hand Arm System and i-Limb in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Dexterous Hand on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Hand Arm System and i-Limb?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss.
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About this comparison
Hand Arm System vs i-Limb compares two robots in the dexterous-hand category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Score is calculated.