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Neufangled Robotics has presented Stringman, an open-source cable-driven robot designed to move a gripper across a room from ceiling-mounted anchors. The company lists a $795 price and says the system can carry up to 2.2 kilograms near the floor, but independent performance and safety testing are not provided in the supplied material.
Neufangled Robotics is presenting Stringman, a $795 open-source cable robot intended to move a gripper across a room using four ceiling-mounted motor assemblies. The design offers a different approach from a wheeled robot or fixed-base arm, but its stated payload, coverage and safety figures come from the company’s product material and have not been independently verified in the information provided.
Stringman hangs its gripper from lines connected to anchors mounted near the four ceiling corners. By changing line lengths, the system moves the gripper through a three-dimensional work area. The company says this arrangement lets the robot reach locations across a room without occupying floor space with a mobile base or limiting movement to an arm’s fixed radius.
Neufangled lists the robot’s price as $795 and describes its structural parts as 3D-printed. Its published specifications give a typical traverse speed of about 0.4 meters per second, a 638-gram gripper and marker, and a rated line-tension limit of 28 newtons. The company says payload capacity can reach 2.2 kilograms near the floor and averages 1.9 kilograms in a 7-by-7-by-3-meter room. Those figures are tied to the stated room configuration and load conditions, not a guarantee for every installation.
The system uses two cameras at its anchors and a third, wide-field camera on the gripper. A separate computer runs the controller, while Raspberry Pi boards handle the gripper and anchors. Neufangled says the controller can run on a local network without sending data out of the home. It also publishes the mechanical CAD, circuit-board designs, software, bill of materials and assembly guide, and says the project is OSHWA-certified. The source material does not include the certification record or a third-party assessment.
A Different Way to Cover a Room
Stringman’s main proposition is that four motors and overhead cables can give a robot access to a large floor area without a mobile chassis. That could appeal to home labs and workshops where equipment, benches or stored materials make floor-level travel difficult. The company specifically pitches the robot as a courier for moving parts between work cells and as a platform for automated grasping tasks.
The approach trades floor clearance for permanent overhead lines and installation work. Users need suitable mounting points near the ceiling, a computer to run the controller, and enough clearance to keep the lines away from obstacles. Neufangled says the lines sit near the ceiling when the gripper is parked and can be detached from the mounts without tools, but the installation still changes the room. Its advertised work-volume comparison with a conventional arm is the company’s calculation, based on a specified room and a particular arm; it is not an independent comparative test.
Publishing the design files may let builders inspect, modify and repair the system rather than relying solely on a sealed commercial product. It also makes the project more accessible to robotics developers experimenting with control software. Open files, however, do not by themselves establish reliability, ease of assembly or safety for use around people.
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How the Cable System Works
Unlike a serial robotic arm, which reaches by moving linked joints from a fixed base, Stringman suspends a gripper on multiple lines. The ceiling anchors define the working area, and coordinated motor movement changes the lines’ lengths to position the gripper. Neufangled’s explanation is that the load is shared among motors; its published payload figures vary according to where the gripper is in the room and the arrangement of the lines.
The company lists intended room sizes with an XY diagonal between 3 and 10 meters and room heights between 2.3 and 4 meters. Its example performance comparison uses a 7-by-7-by-3-meter room. The product page says the anchors should be secured to wall studs or structural columns, or attached to columns with straps. After mounting and connecting the lines, users run a calibration process that the company describes as taking about five minutes.
Neufangled reports about 1,000 hours of testing in real homes. That is a company-reported accumulated testing total; the material does not specify the number of installations, test protocols, failure rates or independent oversight. The listed software also includes a Python API and an MCP server for connecting the robot with automated workflows, alongside tools for collecting training data and running supported robot-learning approaches.
“Tension is all you need”
— Neufangled Robotics
Performance and Installation Questions
The supplied product material does not provide independent test results for payload, positioning accuracy, speed, uptime or performance across different room layouts. It also does not detail how much variation users should expect from different materials, anchor positions or installation quality. The reported 1,000 hours of home testing lacks a breakdown that would allow readers to assess what those tests covered.
Safety is another open question for prospective users. Neufangled says the motors relax when line tension reaches 28 newtons, allowing the lines to be pulled loose, and says the lines are usually overhead. The source does not include formal hazard testing, certification details for the complete robot, or information about how the system responds to faults such as a camera, cable or motor failure. The 28-newton release description should not be treated as proof that every installation is safe around people.
Room suitability also depends on ceiling fixtures and secure mounting locations. The company says lines can be arranged to avoid a ceiling fan or some low fixtures, but a low-hanging object in the center of the room may prevent installation. The listed price is $795; the material does not clarify whether that price includes every required component, shipping, taxes or the computer needed for control.
What Buyers Should Check
People considering Stringman will need to compare their room’s dimensions and mounting structure with the company’s installation requirements, then confirm the current bill of materials and what is included at the listed $795 price. The product material directs prospective builders to its assembly guide and setup instructions; it describes calibration after installation as a short process but does not provide independent evidence about setup time across homes.
Further useful information would include published test methods, accuracy and reliability data, a detailed safety assessment and clarification of the full purchase cost. Until those details are available, the payload and coverage figures are best read as manufacturer specifications for stated conditions. No launch schedule, delivery timeline or independent review is given in the supplied source material.
Key Questions
What is Stringman?
Stringman is a cable-driven room-scale robot from Neufangled Robotics. Four ceiling-mounted anchor assemblies move a suspended gripper through the area defined by the lines.
How much does Stringman cost?
Neufangled lists a price of $795. The supplied material does not say whether that amount covers every component, shipping, taxes or the separate computer used to run the controller.
How much can it carry?
The company lists up to 2.2 kilograms near the floor and an average payload of 1.9 kilograms in a 7-by-7-by-3-meter room. These are manufacturer figures tied to the stated setup and have not been independently verified in the source material.
Does Stringman need internet access?
Neufangled says the robot can run on a local Wi-Fi network without sending data off the network. The company also describes optional remote operation through an account-linked service, which is distinct from the local setup.
Can it be installed in any room?
No. The anchors need secure mounting points, and lines need clearance from fans, lights and other obstacles. Neufangled says some fixtures can be avoided by adjusting anchor height or the work area, but a low obstacle at the center may make a room unsuitable.
Source: neufangled.com
