ENGINEERING GUIDE / SHINING ROBOTICS
Standard platform or custom robot development?
Start with a standard platform when its dimensions, payload and interfaces meet your requirements. Consider JDM when new mechanical, electrical or software design requires coordinated development, validation and production preparation.
By Shining Robotics · updated
SCOPE COMPARISON
Define the work before choosing the purchasing route.
| Decision | Standard platform purchase | Custom development / JDM |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Existing model and agreed configuration | New design scope defined by project |
| Integration | Customer integration using agreed interfaces | Shared development and integration responsibilities |
| Validation | Product configuration and acceptance list | Prototype tests and project acceptance milestones |
| Deliverables | Hardware, accessories, software and documents in the quotation | Agreed design files, software, prototypes and production documents |
| Intellectual property | Product and software license terms | Ownership, reuse and source access explicitly agreed |
| Schedule and cost | Confirmed for configuration and quantity | Assessed against development scope, sourcing and validation |
Begin with a gap list: what the standard platform already provides, what can be adapted, and what must be engineered. Use that list to agree responsibilities, deliverables and acceptance criteria.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
The questions that determine fit.
- Task and environment: floor, route width, obstacles, indoor or other operating conditions.
- Payload and geometry: upper-module mass, footprint, height and center of gravity.
- Motion: required turning behavior, speed and route constraints.
- Software: ROS distribution, OS, drivers, navigation configuration and customer algorithms.
- Supply scope: quantity, accessories, documentation, support and acceptance criteria.
Published maximum and rated payload labels use different definitions. Assess the selected platform under the intended load, speed and conditions. Runtime and application performance need configuration-specific validation.
RELATED GUIDES
Keep building your selection brief.
01 / SELECTION
How to select a mobile robot chassis
Start with payload, mounting space, motion and integration.
Read guide ↗02 / MOTION
Differential drive or four-wheel steering?
Compare motion architecture and the work needed to integrate it.
Read guide ↗03 / COMPARISON
SR-C500 vs SR-C600: the 50 kg shortlist
Look beyond payload to footprint, sensors and battery options.
Read guide ↗