What Lynxmotion does

Lynxmotion, founded in 1995 by Jim Frye in the United States and headquartered operationally in Swanton, is a manufacturer of modular robotic construction systems sold under three parallel platforms: the RC-servo-based SES-V1 (including the AL5-series arms, Phoenix and T-Hex hexapods, BRAT biped, and SQ3 quadruped); the SES-V2 smart-servo system built around Lynxmotion Smart Servo (LSS) actuators with integrated position, voltage, current, temperature, and speed sensors and a human-readable duplex serial protocol; and the recently introduced SES-PRO professional line featuring LSS-PRO strain-wave actuators driven by NEMA stepper motors on a CAN BUS. The product surface extends beyond arms and legged robots into wheeled and tracked rovers (A4WD1, A4WD3 with 4WD, Mecanum, and tracked configurations), UAVs and drones (Multirotor Erector Set, VTail 500, Crazy2Fly, HQuad500, and the Quadrino Nano flight controller), and supporting electronics such as the BotBoarduino microcontroller, SSC-32U servo controller, LSS Adapter, and LSS-2IO/5VR modules; software is delivered through the Windows-only FlowBotics Studio and LSS FlowArm graphical interfaces, with Arduino, Python, and ROS 2 libraries released on GitHub.

Lynxmotion serves three primary customer segments — education (where products are integrated into curricula such as Project Lead The Way's Computer Integrated Manufacturing course), research institutions and professionals (now explicitly targeted by the SES-PRO platform), and hobbyists/enthusiasts building custom robots through the SES modular bracket system. Revenue is generated almost exclusively through hardware sales (modular kits, smart servo actuators, parts and accessories) plus ancillary software licensing via FlowBotics Studio, with all products distributed through a single channel: the parent company RobotShop Inc.'s global e-commerce platform headquartered in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, which acquired Lynxmotion in August 2012 and assumed all operations. The company's core differentiation rests on three generations of cross-compatible modular hardware, an extensive content library (assembly guides, 3D CAD models, wiki, and community-contributed code), and integrations with third-party ecosystems including Hitec RC servos, Arduino shields, XBee, Raspberry Pi, ROS 2, and YDLidar.

Name

Lynxmotion

Legal name

Lynxmotion Inc.

Website

https://lynxmotion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lynxmotion is a US-founded manufacturer of modular robotic construction systems — including smart servos, robotic arms, legged robots, rovers, and UAVs — sold exclusively through parent RobotShop to education, hobbyist, and research customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Modular Robotics Kits and Components

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Robot Hardware, Actuators & Components (sensors, grippers, motors) (HDAAAIAL)

Keywords

• Modular robotics kits
• Smart servo actuators
• Servo erector sets
• Robot construction systems
• Educational robotics

Headquarters

HQ city

Swanton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Robot Kit Sales: Lynxmotion generates revenue through sale of modular robot kits including arms (AL5 series, SES-PRO, SES-V2), legged robots (hexapods, quadrupeds, bipeds), rovers (A4WD1, A4WD3), and UAVs/drones. Kits range from hobbyist/enthusiast to professional/research grade and include all necessary mechanical and electronic components for assembly.
2. Smart Servo Actuator Sales: Sale of proprietary smart servo motors including LSS-PRO series (L1, S1, M1), LSS series (HS1, ST1, HT1), and associated accessories. Servos are sold individually or as part of kit configurations and represent a key recurring component of the product ecosystem.
3. Parts and Accessories: Sales of modular bracket components, aluminum structural parts, carbon fiber tubes, G10 composites, motors, wheels, tracks, electronics modules, and replacement parts. These items support kit purchases and enable customers to customize or expand their robot configurations.
4. Software Licensing: FlowBotics Studio software platform, used to create graphical robot control applications. While some basic software is provided free with kits, FlowBotics Studio offers enhanced programming capabilities for more advanced robot applications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lynxmotion designs, manufactures, and sells modular robotic construction systems organized into three proprietary Servo Erector Set (SES) platforms: SES-PRO for professional applications, SES-V2 using Lynxmotion Smart Servo actuators, and SES-V1 using RC servos. The portfolio spans robotic arms (3-6 DoF), legged robots (hexapods, quadrupeds, bipeds), wheeled and tracked rovers, and UAV/drones, alongside proprietary smart servo actuators, electronic adapter boards, and the FlowBotics Studio graphical programming software. All products are sold exclusively through parent company RobotShop's global e-commerce platform.

Product overview

Lynxmotion offers a comprehensive portfolio of modular robotics kits and components organized around three generations of Servo Erector Set (SES) systems: the professional-grade SES-PRO, the smart servo-based SES-V2, and the RC servo-based SES-V1. The SES-PRO system features strain wave gear actuators with NEMA stepper motors for high-torque professional applications. SES-V2 utilizes Lynxmotion Smart Servo (LSS) motors with integrated sensors and human-readable communication protocols. SES-V1 uses traditional Hitec RC servos for hobbyist applications. Product offerings span robotic arms (AL5 series, LSS series, and SES-PRO arms in 3-6 DoF configurations), legged robots (hexapods including Phoenix and T-Hex, quadrupeds including mechDOG and SQ3, and bipeds including BRAT and Scout), wheeled/tracked rovers (A4WD1 Original Rovers and A4WD3 Rugged Rovers in 4WD, Mecanum, and tracked configurations), and UAVs/drones (VTail, Crazy2Fly, HQuad500, and the Multirotor Erector Set modular frame system). Supporting electronics include the BotBoarduino microcontroller, SSC-32U servo controller, LSS Adapter, and LSS-2IO/LSS-5VR modules. Software includes FlowBotics Studio for graphical programming and LSS FlowArm for arm control. All products are distributed exclusively through RobotShop following the company's 2012 acquisition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SES-PRO Modular Robot System Next-generation professional modular robotic construction system featuring three smart servo actuators (LSS-P-L1, LSS-P-S1, LSS-P-M1) with strain wave gearing, NEMA stepper motors, and human-readable CAN BUS communication protocol. Components include black anodized aluminum brackets and carbon fiber tubes, designed for hobby-to-professional modular robotics projects.
• SES-V2 Modular Robot System Second-generation modular robot building system using Lynxmotion Smart Servo (LSS) motors with modular brackets, electronics, and software. Features aluminum bracket system with black anodized finish, carbon fiber tubing, and daisy-chained electronic modules.
• SES-V1 Modular Robot System Original modular building set for RC servo motors. Components include black anodized aluminum brackets, durable black Lexan plastic parts, ball bearings at each degree of freedom, and precision fit tubing and hubs. Compatible with Hitec RC servos.
• SES-PRO Robot Arms (5DoF and 6DoF) Professional modular robotic arms with 550mm or 900mm reach, available in 5DoF and 6DoF configurations. Reconfigurable design allows joints to be swapped, reoriented, or removed; can be powered via mains or 8S lithium battery pack.
• SES-V2 Robot Arms (3DoF, 4DoF, 5DoF) Sixth-generation robotic arms designed around LSS smart servo motors; 4DoF articulated arm is hobby version of industrial robotic arm, 3DoF arm features four-bar mechanical design keeping end effector parallel to surface. Compatible with LSS FlowArm software.
• mechDOG Quadruped Robot Four-legged (quadruped) walking robot with 12 degrees of freedom using ST1 modular smart servos. Body plates made of G10 composite with anodized aluminum side panels. Supports Arduino, Python, and ROS, with mounting points for YDLidar X2 360 degree laser scanner.
• AL5 Series Robotic Arms (AL5A, AL5B, AL5D) Fifth-generation hobby robotic arms featuring base rotation, shoulder, elbow, wrist motion, and functional gripper. AL5D has longest reach (19 inch horizontal) and heaviest payload (~10oz); AL5A has shortest reach with lowest payload but best price. Made from anodized aluminum brackets and precision laser-cut Lexan.
• Phoenix Hexapod Robot 3DOF hexapod walking robot with natural-looking articulated leg and body design. Uses 18 Hitec HS-645 servos and can walk in any direction. Includes BotBoarduino and community-developed Phoenix walking code.
• T-Hex Hexapod Robot Mech-inspired hexapod with 3DoF or 4DoF legs. Offset brackets provide additional range of motion, and the 4DOF version expands dynamic range with an additional axis.
• BRAT Biped Robot Bipedal Robotic Articulating Transport; inexpensive 6-servo biped walking robot with 3 DOF per leg. Can walk forward/backward, turn in place, and get up after a fall.
• SQ3 Quadrapod Robot Symmetric Quad 3Dof quadruped robot with 12 DoF and symmetric body design. Three DoF legs allow walking in any direction. Targeted at research-level applications in college robotics labs.
• A4WD1 Original Rover Four-wheel drive rover with robust aluminum/polycarbonate chassis. SES-compatible for adding brackets, servos, sensors, and robotic arms. Sabertooth 2x10 motor controller suggested. Capable of carrying additional decks and Lynxmotion robot arms.
• Tri-Track Rover Track-based rover using Modular Track System (MTS) with heavy duty polypropylene and rubber tracks and ABS molded sprockets. Includes two 12VDC 50:1 gear head motors, 5lb payload capacity.
• A4WD3 Rugged Rover Series Professional mobile platform available in 4WD, Mecanum (omnidirectional), and tracked configurations. Features waterproof aluminum/G10 frame with shaft seals, 12V DC motors with 27:1 planetary gears, magnetic encoders (12 PPR), top speed ~3 m/s, ground clearance 41mm (wheels) or 63mm (tracked).
• Multirotor Erector Set (M.E.S.) Modular UAV frame system with interchangeable components for creating semi-custom multirotor drones (quadcopters, hexacopters, X8 configurations). Aluminum brackets, G10 composite frame plates, ultralight carbon fiber tubes, and a power distribution board supporting up to 8 motors with 20A continuous per channel.
• VTail 500 Quadcopter High performance quadcopter using two angled rear propellers merging the VTail concept. G10 fiberglass composite frame. Designed for sport flying.
• Crazy2Fly Quadcopter Smaller high performance quadcopter capable of high speed aerial acrobatics. G10 fiberglass composite frame.
• HQuad500 Quadcopter 500mm quadcopter built using M.E.S. system with aluminum clamps and 16mm carbon fiber tubes. 500mm diagonal motor-to-motor distance.
• LSS-PRO Smart Servo Actuators (L1, S1, M1) Professional smart servo actuators with strain wave gears for high torque with high angular precision. Based on stepper motors (slower motion yields higher torque). Three models: L1 (Lite), S1 (Standard), and M1 (Mega) with varying torque and speed specifications; daisy-chainable on CAN BUS.
• LSS Smart Servo Motors (HS1, ST1, HT1) Modular, versatile, configurable smart servo actuators with integrated sensors (position, voltage, current, temperature, speed), 360-degree motion capability, multi-turn mode, and human-readable duplex serial communication protocol.
• SSC-32U Servo Controller USB servo controller controlling up to 32 individual RC servos with 8 spare IO. Communicates via USB, serial, or wireless BEE format devices.
• BotBoarduino Microcontroller Arduino Duemilanove compatible microcontroller designed specifically for Lynxmotion robots. 3 x 2.3 inch footprint attaches to any robot kit and retains Arduino shield connections.
• Quadrino Nano Flight Controller Flight controller for UAVs and drones with GPS capability; technology acquired from Flying Einstein LLC.
• FlowBotics Studio Windows-based robotics software development platform used to create graphical interfaces for controlling Lynxmotion robots. Includes LSS FlowArm interface for robotic arms; programs can be customized and exported as executables.

Quantifiable outcome

• Used in educational institutions worldwide teaching robotics principles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mech-Dickel Robotics (RobotShop Community)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMech-Dickel Robotics, a member of the RobotShop Community, collaborated with Lynxmotion to create the mechDOG Quadruped robot. This four-legged (quadruped/quadrapod) robot has similar degrees of freedom to a mammal and uses ST1 modular servos along with Lynxmotion Servo Erector Set (SES) V2 brackets. The collaboration brought together community expertise and Lynxmotion's modular robotics platform.
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLynxmotion collaborated with PLTW to integrate the AL5D robot arm into PLTW's Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) curriculum. Lynxmotion released a custom version of the AL5D arm along with FlowArm PLTW software specifically designed for the PLTW educational program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Makeblock: Makeblock produces STEAM education robotics platforms (mBot, Codey Rocky, mBuild) that compete with Lynxmotion's educational offerings in K-12 STEM and maker markets.
• HEBI Robotics: HEBI Robotics builds modular, series-elastic actuators and integrated robotic systems primarily for research and academic use — a higher-end peer to Lynxmotion SES-PRO in the modular research-actuator category.

Direct peers

• ServoCity (Actobotics): ServoCity's Actobotics line offers modular aluminum bracket systems, channel-based construction components, and servos for hobbyist and research robotics, mirroring Lynxmotion's SES modular construction concept.
• Pololu: Pololu sells a wide range of robotics components — motors, gearboxes, controllers, and chassis — to hobbyist, education, and OEM customers, overlapping with Lynxmotion's component-level sales.
• Robotis: Robotis manufactures Dynamixel smart servos and modular humanoid/quadruped platforms (THORMANG, OP3, Mini) for research and education — a direct smart-servo and modular-robot peer to Lynxmotion's LSS/LSS-PRO and SES systems.
• Trossen Robotics: Trossen Robotics is a direct competitor offering modular robotics kits, robotic arms, and educational robotics platforms to hobbyist, research, and education customers in North America — overlapping directly with Lynxmotion's SES product lines.

Others

• Adafruit Industries: Adafruit is a leading hobbyist electronics and learning platform serving the maker, education, and DIY robotics communities that Lynxmotion also targets, but with a broader electronics rather than robotic-kit focus.
• SparkFun Electronics: SparkFun is a hobbyist electronics retailer and open-source hardware provider serving the same maker and education community as Lynxmotion, though focused on electronic components rather than full robotic kits.

Broad incumbents

• VEX Robotics: VEX Robotics is an established incumbent in K-12 and university educational robotics competitions and kits, competing for the same educational curriculum slots and STEM program budgets that Lynxmotion targets.
• Hitec RCD USA: Hitec is the dominant RC servo supplier whose servos power Lynxmotion's SES-V1 system; Hitec is a competitor in actuation technology and a complementary component supplier embedded in Lynxmotion's product line.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RobotShop
• GitHubgithub.com/Lynxmotion
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RobotShopTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/robotshop
• Instagraminstagram.com/robotshop
• Pinterestpinterest.ca/robotshop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lynxmotion-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lynxmotion