Co-create the next breakthroughs in dexterous manipulation.
We partner with universities and research labs to explore manipulation, human demonstration and robot learning together. Start with Aero hardware at our research price, and grow into a jointly designed project when the fit is right.
Dexterous robotics should be built by many hands.
Capable dexterous hardware and high-quality manipulation data are still within reach of only a handful of labs. We want more teams doing ambitious work in this field, and we want to do that work with them. You get hardware and support that fit a research budget. Together, we aim for results at the top of the field, and your work and feedback make Aero better for everyone.
More than hardware.
A partner in your research.
Research pricing
Dedicated pricing for universities and research labs on Aero UMI and Aero Hand, so our most capable hardware fits research budgets.
A complete setup
Each Aero UMI comes with tactile sensors, onboard motion sensing, a software license and shipping included.
Direct engineering support
Onboarding, integration help and a direct line to the engineers who built the system.
A say in the product
Your feedback goes straight into our roadmap, so the tools evolve around real research needs.
A path to a shared project
For work aimed at top-tier publications, we can co-design a project with your team and provide additional devices, technical, equipment and other agreed support as milestones are reached.
Visibility for your work
With your permission, we feature your research in a case study or demo shared with the robotics community.
From your lab’s first device to a shared project.
Evaluation
- 01
Tell us about your lab
Share your research goals, the tasks you have in mind and the hardware and software you use today.
- 02
Get a formal quote
We confirm research pricing, configuration and delivery in a formal quote. Your institution purchases through its usual process.
- 03
Put it to work
Use Aero in your own research or teaching during an agreed evaluation period, with our team on hand for setup and integration.
- 04
Share what you learn
A short interview and a brief written summary of what you tried, what worked and what didn’t. Successful results aren’t required.
Research collaboration
After evaluation, keep working with Aero as a customer. For research aimed at top-tier publications, we agree on a project together when the scientific fit and resources line up on both sides.
- 05
Scope a project together
In a technical session, we agree on the research question, experiments, equipment, contributions and the venue we’re aiming for.
- 06
Build it, milestone by milestone
Regular check-ins keep the project moving from first experiments to publication. Chestnut provides the agreed support as each milestone is reached, all set out in a written agreement with your institution.
Research pricing and partnership terms are confirmed in a formal quote and agreement with your institution.
Research and teaching we’d love to build with you.
- Dexterous manipulation
- Demonstration quality
- Tactile sensing
- Human-to-robot transfer
- Data collection and evaluation
- Teaching and student projects
Your research stays your research.
Independent results
You lead the experimental design, interpretation and reporting. Our support never depends on favorable results.
Credit where it’s earned
Authorship reflects real scholarly contribution, following your institution’s practices.
Confidential by default
Unpublished results, code and data are shared only within the scope we agree on together.
Built to grow
Start with one device or a pair, and scale equipment and scope as the project takes shape.
Good to know
Do we need to purchase the equipment?
Yes. Your institution purchases Aero hardware at our research price, confirmed in a formal quote. Collaboration support comes later, once we’ve agreed on a project together.
Do we have to publish to get research pricing?
No. Research pricing only asks for your feedback during the evaluation period. Research collaborations are different: they aim for top-tier publications, agreed up front in the project plan.
How does a research collaboration start?
By mutual agreement. After evaluation, we look together at scientific fit, the project’s ambition and the resources on both sides. When they line up for work aimed at a top-tier publication, we shape the project together and put it in writing. Teams that prefer to keep things simple continue as customers.
Who owns the research?
You do. You lead the experimental design, interpretation and reporting, and authorship follows real scholarly contribution.
Can we start small?
Yes. Most teams begin with one Aero UMI or a left-and-right pair, then add devices as the project takes shape.
Let’s build something worth exploring.
Tell us about your lab, what you want to investigate and the hardware you work with today. We’ll get back to you to talk through research pricing and where a collaboration could help.