Hardware

Gantry Robot

A gantry robot is a Cartesian robot whose end effector moves along linear axes supported by an overhead bridge structure spanning the workspace, typically with X, Y, and Z rails in a rectangular frame. Gantries offer large, scalable work envelopes, high payloads, and stiff, repeatable positioning with simple kinematics, at the cost of floor space and limited dexterity. They are common in CNC machining, 3D printing, warehouse picking, and large-part handling.

Why it matters for physical AI

For overhead coverage of large areas, gantries remain more economical than articulated arms, and they serve as stable camera and tool platforms in data collection rigs and automated labs feeding robot learning pipelines.