Elephant Robotics Technology Mycobot 320 M5-Robot Arm (4010100021)

Most robot arms force a choice. The ones small enough to sit beside a laptop tend to speak only to hobby software, while the ones that talk to programmable logic controllers and factory networks arrive with a safety cell, an integration project and a budget to match. The Elephant Robotics Technology Mycobot 320 M5-Robot Arm (4010100021) sets out to occupy the ground between those two worlds: a collaborative desktop arm whose controller accepts Python and block-based programming on one side, and MODBUS, TCP/IP and discrete I/O on the other. For a laboratory, a training centre or an automation team sketching out a new cell, that combination means the same arm can progress from a first lesson to a working proof of concept without a change of platform.

Robots Europa, based in Dublin, supplies the myCobot 320 M5 to universities, research groups, system integrators and industrial customers across the European Union and the DACH region. We prepare each quotation for the configuration you request, arrange delivery to your country and remain your point of contact for technical questions once the arm is in service.

Background

Elephant Robotics and the myCobot family

Elephant Robotics is a Chinese manufacturer, headquartered in Shenzhen, that concentrates on collaborative robots for education, research and light commercial work. Its myCobot range spans compact desktop arms such as the Elephant Robotics Technology Mycobot-280 Jetson Nano (4010100018) through to larger industrial-style models such as the Elephant Robotics myCobot Pro 630 Robot Arm (4010200011), and the 320 series forms one strand of that family. Throughout the range, the company has placed its emphasis on open programming interfaces and a low barrier to entry, so that an arm remains approachable for a student while staying fully scriptable for an engineer.

The M5 controller and its connectivity

The suffix in the name identifies the master controller version. The myCobot 320 M5 uses a 240MHz dual core main processor with 520KB of SRAM, and it brings its wireless connectivity on board: WiFi to 802.11ac and dual-mode Bluetooth. Alongside the wireless links, the controller exposes six inputs and six outputs and supports serial communication, MODBUS and TCP/IP. The manufacturer also offers the myCobot 320 PI as a separate version with its own controller specification; its figures belong to that version alone and are not carried over to the M5 described on this page.

Technical Specifications

Specifications as published by the manufacturer; they are confirmed against the datasheet at quotation.

Elephant Robotics has not published the dimensions of the arm, its IP rating, its maximum end speed, its noise level or the contents of the box; Robots Europa confirms these at quotation.

How does the myCobot 320 M5 connect to industrial equipment?

The question that separates an educational arm from a useful prototyping tool is whether it can take part in a larger system. Here the controller answers on three levels. At the simplest, the six inputs and six outputs allow the arm to react to a sensor, a push-button or a light barrier and to signal a conveyor, a lamp or another device in return, without any network configuration at all. One level up, serial communication gives a direct, deterministic link to a host computer or an embedded board. At the network level, MODBUS and TCP/IP open the way to programmable logic controllers, supervisory software and other machines on a local network.

For an integrator, this matters because a cell can be designed around protocols already in use on the shop floor. A PLC can command the arm over MODBUS while a PC application monitors it over TCP/IP, and the discrete I/O handles the quick interlocks between them. The wireless links add flexibility in the laboratory: with WiFi to 802.11ac and dual-mode Bluetooth, a developer can work with the arm without running a cable to the bench. Whether a wireless connection is appropriate in a given production environment is, of course, a decision for the integrator and the site's own policies.

Which programming tools does the myCobot 320 M5 support?

The M5 version supports four programming languages: Python, C++, C# and JavaScript. That spread covers most teams. Python suits researchers and data scientists who want to drive the arm from the same scripts that process camera images or sensor data; C++ suits developers who need tight control and integration with existing native code; C# fits naturally into Windows desktop applications; and JavaScript allows browser-based or web-connected interfaces.

For those who do not wish to start with code, the development software includes myBlockly, myStudio, UiFlow and Arduino. Block-based environments let a newcomer assemble a motion sequence visually and then inspect the logic behind it, which makes them well suited to classrooms and introductory workshops. Development is supported on Windows, Linux and MacOS, so a mixed fleet of computers in a university department or engineering office is no obstacle. For robotics research, the arm supports ROS1, which gives access to the established ROS tooling for motion planning, simulation and visualisation. Teams that have standardised on a later ROS generation should discuss their requirements with us before ordering, so that the integration path is clear from the outset.

Who is the myCobot 320 M5 for?

The first group is education. Schools, colleges and universities teaching robotics, mechatronics or programming benefit from an arm that students can begin with in a visual environment and later control from Python or C++. The breadth of supported operating systems means that the arm fits into existing computer rooms rather than requiring dedicated machines.

The second group is research. Laboratories working with ROS1, computer vision or human–robot interaction need an arm they can script freely and connect to their own software stack. The open set of languages and protocols makes the myCobot 320 M5 a practical test platform for algorithms that will later run on larger hardware.

The third group is industrial: system integrators and automation engineers who want to prototype a cell, demonstrate a concept to a client or train staff on collaborative robotics before committing to production equipment. MODBUS, TCP/IP and discrete I/O allow such a prototype to communicate with the same controllers that a final installation would use.

Buyers who would prefer a different controller arrangement within the same series should compare this page with the Elephant Robotics Technology Mycobot 320 Pi Robot Arm (4010100023), whose specifications appear on its own page. Those still surveying the market will find the wider range in our Cobots category.

What is the myCobot 320 M5 used for?

1. Robotics teaching — introducing students to joint motion, coordinate systems and programming, from block-based exercises to full scripts.
2. ROS research — testing motion planning, perception and control algorithms within the ROS1 ecosystem.
3. Automation prototyping — building a proof-of-concept cell that talks to a PLC over MODBUS or TCP/IP before scaling up.
4. Machine vision experiments — pairing the arm with a camera and Python code to explore pick-and-place and object recognition.
5. Software and interface development — writing control applications in C#, C++ or JavaScript and testing them against real hardware.
6. Demonstrations and exhibitions — showing collaborative robotics to clients, visitors or students in a compact, approachable format.

Pricing and Availability

Robots Europa supplies the myCobot 320 M5 on quotation, so that the offer reflects the configuration, accessories and country of delivery you require. Please tell us how you intend to use the arm, which software environment you work in and where it is to be delivered, and we will prepare a tailored offer. Delivery, customs and support are arranged together with the quotation. To begin, use the quotation request available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the myCobot 320 M5 support ROS?

Yes. The M5 version supports ROS1, giving access to the established ROS tools for planning, simulation and visualisation.

Which operating systems can I develop on?

Development is supported on Windows, Linux and MacOS. The development software comprises myBlockly, myStudio, UiFlow and Arduino.

Can the arm communicate with a PLC?

The controller supports serial communication, MODBUS and TCP/IP, and provides six inputs and six outputs. The exact integration with your control system can be discussed with Robots Europa when we prepare the quotation.

Is wireless connectivity built in?

Yes. The M5 version offers WiFi to 802.11ac and dual-mode Bluetooth 2.4G/5G.

How does the M5 version differ from the PI version?

The two versions differ in their master controller. The figures on this page apply to the M5 version only; the PI version's specifications are given on its own product page.

What are the dimensions and IP rating of the arm?

Robots Europa supplies the dimensions, the IP rating, the maximum end speed and the noise level with your quotation, together with the contents of the box.

Where can I buy the Elephant Robotics Technology Mycobot 320 M5-Robot Arm (4010100021) and what does it cost?

You can buy it from Robots Europa, which supplies customers across the EU and the DACH region. The cost depends on configuration and destination, so we provide it in a tailored quotation that you can request on this page.

Summary

The myCobot 320 M5 resolves the familiar choice between a friendly desktop arm and one that can speak the language of the factory. Its 240MHz dual core controller, wireless links and four programming languages make it approachable in a classroom or a research laboratory, while MODBUS, TCP/IP, serial communication and six inputs and outputs allow it to take part in a real automation prototype. For educators, researchers and integrators who want one platform to carry a project from first lesson to proof of concept, it is a coherent choice; Robots Europa quotes, delivers and supports it across the EU and the DACH region. Browse the wider Robot Arms range for comparison, and when you are ready to plan your project, this page is the starting point.