How to Select the Right Robot Joint Actuator: A Practical Engineering Guide

TL;DR: A step-by-step framework for engineers selecting robotic joint actuators — covering torque requirements, transmission type, communication protocol, and control interface. Includes downloadable spec comparison template.

The Problem: Too Many Options, Too Little Guidance

If you're building a robot arm, cobot, or humanoid and searching for actuators, you've probably noticed:

Some suppliers list peak torque, others list continuous torque