Dobot CRA Collaborative Robot (CR5A)

Most industrial arms earn their precision behind a safety fence. The harder engineering problem is keeping that precision once the fence comes down and an operator stands within arm's reach. The Dobot CRA Collaborative Robot (CR5A) is DOBOT's answer at the compact end of its CRA range: a 5 kg arm with a 900 mm working radius, a repeatability of ±0.02 mm and a safety architecture built so that people and robot can share a bench, a conveyor or a test cell. It is the kind of machine that is often bought first for a single station, a pilot line or a laboratory, and then multiplied once the process has proved itself.

Robots Middle East supplies the CR5A to manufacturers, system integrators, universities and research centres across the Middle East. Our team prepares a quotation for each configuration, whether the AC Edition or the DC Edition, together with the tooling and interfaces your application requires. We arrange delivery to your site and support the robot after installation, from commissioning questions to integration with your existing equipment.

Background

DOBOT and the CRA series

DOBOT is the robotics brand of Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer whose portfolio ranges from educational arms to industrial collaborative robots and, more recently, humanoid platforms. The CRA series is its collaborative line for industrial work and comprises seven arms: the CR3A, CR5A, CR7A, CR10A, CR12A, CR16A and CR20A. The models share a new control cabinet and the DobotStudio Pro system software, which DOBOT introduced to improve safety, stability and scalability across the range and to strengthen human-machine collaboration. Every robot in the series is calibrated with a laser calibration system, giving an absolute positioning accuracy of under 0.4 mm, and the CRA series has been certified to ISO 13849-1, ISO 10218-1 and ISO/TS 15066, with more than 20 safety functions.

Where the CR5A sits and what it brings

Within the series, the CR5A occupies the compact middle ground: light enough at 25 kg to be mounted on a workbench, a stand or a moving base, yet with enough reach to serve a typical workstation. Its hardware details reflect practical use on the shop floor. A dual-channel end effector design connects directly to multiple end tools, which simplifies the wiring of grippers and sensors. An electromagnetic brake protection system reduces the drop distance of the end tool if power fails, protecting both the workpiece and the tooling. A visual status indicator at the base shows the operating state at a glance, which matters when people work beside the arm. Both the robot body and the control box achieve IP54 protection, and the controller offers 24 digital IO ports with support for PNP and NPN switching, so the arm adapts to the sensors and actuators already on site.

Technical Specifications

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

DOBOT has not published the package contents, whether a teach pendant is included, the rated supply voltage, the joint-by-joint torque, the brake release time or the standard used to test pose repeatability; these details are confirmed at quotation.

What makes the CR5A different from a conventional industrial arm?

A conventional industrial robot is usually designed around speed and isolation: it works inside a guarded cell and people stay outside. The CR5A is designed around proximity. The CRA series certification to ISO 10218-1 and ISO/TS 15066, the latter addressing collaborative operation, and to ISO 13849-1 for safety-related control systems, together with more than 20 safety functions, is what allows a risk assessment to consider shared workspaces at all. The base status indicator and the electromagnetic brake protection support the same aim, making the robot's state visible and limiting what happens to the tool if power is lost.

The second difference lies in deployment. Because the arm can be installed at any angle, it can be mounted on a table, a wall or a ceiling to suit an existing workstation rather than requiring the station to be rebuilt around it. The ISO 9409-1 flange accepts standard tooling, the dual-channel end effector design shortens the work of connecting grippers, and Profinet and Ethernet/IP support allows the CR5A to take its place in a line controlled by a PLC. For many plants, this combination of shared-space safety and straightforward integration is the real reason to choose a cobot.

Should I choose the AC Edition or the DC Edition?

DOBOT offers the CR5A in two editions: the AC Edition, designated Standard, and the DC Edition, designated Mobile. The Standard edition is the natural choice for fixed installations, where the robot is bolted to a bench or stand within a cell and powered from the site supply. The Mobile edition is the one to consider when the arm is to travel, for example mounted on an autonomous mobile robot or a guided vehicle that carries its own DC power source. Our team sets out the electrical arrangements of the chosen edition in the quotation, so that the robot matches your power set-up before it is shipped.

Who is the Dobot CRA Collaborative Robot (CR5A) for?

The CR5A is aimed first at small and medium-sized manufacturers taking their first step into automation, where a compact arm with a modest footprint can relieve operators of repetitive tasks without a full redesign of the shop floor. System integrators will value its PLC connectivity, the 24 configurable digital IO ports and the standard flange, all of which shorten engineering time on customer projects. Electronics, consumer goods and light assembly producers will find its repeatability suited to small-part work, while laboratories, universities and technical colleges can use it to teach and research collaborative robotics in an industrial-grade format.

Where a task calls for a heavier payload or a longer reach, the larger arms of the CRA series are the place to look, and the CR3A is the smaller member of the family; our team can compare the models against your application. You may also browse our full range of Cobots or the wider Dobot catalogue.

What is the Dobot CRA Collaborative Robot (CR5A) used for?

1. Machine tending: loading and unloading CNC machines, presses and test equipment so operators can supervise several stations.
2. Pick and place: transferring small parts between trays, conveyors and fixtures with consistent placement.
3. Assembly and screw driving: repetitive fastening and part insertion where precision matters more than force.
4. Quality inspection: presenting parts to cameras and sensors, or carrying a vision system around a workpiece.
5. Dispensing and gluing: following a programmed path to apply adhesives or sealants evenly.
6. Education and research: teaching robot programming, safety concepts and integration in universities and training centres.

Pricing and Availability

The CR5A is supplied by quotation, which allows us to match the edition, tooling, interfaces and services to your project rather than offer a single fixed package. Please share your application, the edition you are considering and any integration requirements, and Robots Middle East will prepare a tailored proposal. Delivery, customs clearance and after-sales support are arranged together with the quotation. To begin, use the quotation request available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What payload and reach does the CR5A offer?

The CR5A carries a maximum payload of 5 kg and has a working radius of 900 mm. Bear in mind that the weight of the gripper or tool counts towards the payload.

Is the CR5A safe to work alongside people?

The CRA series has been certified to ISO 13849-1, ISO 10218-1 and ISO/TS 15066 and offers more than 20 safety functions. As with any collaborative installation, a risk assessment of the complete application remains necessary.

Can the robot be mounted on a wall or ceiling?

Yes. The CR5A can be installed at any angle, and the cable to the controller is 5 m long, which gives flexibility when positioning the control box.

Which industrial protocols does the CR5A support?

The CR5A supports Profinet and Ethernet/IP and connects with PLCs. The CRA series also provides Modbus TCP/RTU among its standard communication methods.

Is the CR5A suitable for dusty or warm environments?

The robot body and control box are rated IP54, and the working environment is specified as 0° to 50° C. For demanding conditions, our team will review your site with you before quoting.

Which software is used to program the CR5A?

The CR5A runs on DobotStudio Pro, the system software of the CRA series, which works with the series' new control cabinet. Our team can advise on programming and integration as part of your project.

Where can I buy the Dobot CRA Collaborative Robot (CR5A) and what does it cost?

You can buy the CR5A from Robots Middle East, which supplies and supports it across the Middle East. The cost depends on the edition, tooling and services you require, so we provide it in a tailored quotation that you can request on this page.

Summary

The CR5A addresses the problem with which this article began: how to keep industrial precision once the fence comes down. It pairs a repeatability of ±0.02 mm and a 900 mm working radius with series-level safety certification, brake protection and a visible status indicator, then makes integration practical through any-angle mounting, a standard flange, configurable IO and PLC protocols. With a Standard edition for fixed cells and a Mobile edition for moving platforms, it suits a first automation project as readily as a growing fleet. For a quotation configured to your application, this page is the starting point.