Flexiv Rizon Force-Controlled Adaptive Robot

Flexiv was founded in 2016 in Santa Clara, California, by a core team from the Robotics and AI Lab at Stanford University. It builds general-purpose adaptive robots that combine industrial-grade force control with AI, so that robots can handle contact-rich tasks such as polishing, gluing and assembly that rigid industrial arms struggle with.

The Rizon series is a 7-axis force-controlled robot arm offered in 4 kg and 10 kg payload versions, with or without an extra force/torque sensor. It keeps force control active in normal operation, can be mounted at any angle and is programmed through Flexiv Elements, a visual programming system on the teach pendant. The Hesper controller handles real-time motion and force control. Customers include automotive manufacturers using Rizon for adhesive primer application and polishing.

• Seven axes: a human-arm-like structure for dexterous movement around obstacles.
• Built-in force control: torque sensing in every joint keeps force control active during operation.
• Two payload classes: 4 kg and 10 kg models with reach of 876 to 984 mm.
• Flexiv Elements: visual programming on the teach pendant with support for secondary development.
• Hesper controller: real-time motion and force control with Profinet and Modbus TCP/IP.
• Accessories: end-of-arm tools, camera module, external axis and mobile workbench for AMR use.

An automotive parts plant in Vietnam can use Rizon for polishing and adhesive application on interior components. An electronics factory can automate connector insertion and precision assembly. A research institute or university can use the force-controlled arm for AI and manipulation research.

Force sensing down to 0.03 N on the Rizon 4 with F/T sensor lets the robot perform delicate insertion, polishing and assembly with consistent quality. Pose repeatability of ±0.05 mm and IP65 protection suit harsh shop-floor conditions. Visual programming shortens deployment, and CE and ETL certification supports safe use near workers.

Manufacturers are moving beyond simple pick-and-place towards automating contact-rich finishing and assembly work that still relies on skilled hands. Force-controlled robots trained in simulation platforms such as NVIDIA Isaac are a growing part of this shift, relevant to electronics and automotive supply chains expanding in Southeast Asia.

Founded in 2016 in Santa Clara with a Stanford team; offices in San Jose, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Singapore and Munich, plus factories in Foshan and Zhongshan. Awards include Red Dot Best of the Best (2022) and Forbes China Top 10 AI Innovative Tech Companies (2024).