Choosing the right robotic manipulator for a specific task is a crucial engineering decision. It involves a trade-off between capability, cost, and complexity. An oversized, overly complex robot is an unnecessary expense, while an underspecified robot will fail to perform its task reliably. The selection process begins with a thorough analysis of the application's requirements, which are then matched against the key performance specifications of available robots.

1. Number of Axes (Degrees of Freedom)
2. Payload Capacity
3. Reach and Stroke
4. Speed
5. Accuracy, Repeatability, and Precision
6. Operating Environment