Who it is for
People evaluating whether SVRC fits their learning, buying, research, or deployment needs and who want direct answers before booking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about robot learning, data collection, and our services.
What this page is: the fastest answer page for recurring questions about robotics hardware, data collection, model workflows, leasing, and working with SVRC.
What it answers
The questions teams ask most often about robot learning, platforms, data requirements, rentals, and service availability.
Where to go next
If an answer points you toward a deeper path, continue into the Learn hub, Resources, Products, or Academy chapters linked throughout the page.
Useful links: Getting Started, Resources, Products, Robotics Academy, and Contact.
What is robot learning?
Robot learning is the process of training robots to perform tasks from data (imitation learning) or trial-and-error (reinforcement learning). Key approaches include behavior cloning, DAgger, diffusion policies, and vision-language-action (VLA) models. See our Glossary for definitions.
How much data do I need for imitation learning?
It depends on task complexity. Simple pick-place: 50–200 demonstrations. Complex multi-step tasks: 200–1000+. Pre-trained models (OpenVLA, Octo) can often achieve good results with fewer demos via fine-tuning. We can help with data collection for your specific task.
Can I use simulation data for real robots?
Yes, but with caveats. Sim-to-real transfer works best with domain randomization and often benefits from real-world fine-tuning. Real data is often more reliable for deployment. See Why Real-World Data Beats Simulation Alone and our Sim-to-Real glossary.
What robot do I need for data collection?
WidowX, Franka, ALOHA, and similar arms are common. See our Robot Platforms Comparison for cost, DOF, and data-collection suitability. We provide data collection services if you prefer not to operate hardware yourself.
What is a VLA model?
Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models take images and language instructions as input and output robot actions. Examples: OpenVLA, RT-2, Octo. See our Models catalog and VLA & VLM glossary.
How do I get started with OpenVLA or Octo?
Both have Hugging Face checkpoints and GitHub repos. Check our OpenVLA and Octo pages for official links. Fine-tuning typically requires 50–500 demos for your robot and task.
Do you offer custom data collection?
Yes. We provide data collection services for imitation learning and RL. We can collect demonstrations on your hardware or ours, with learning-ready formatting and QA.
What support channels are available after I buy or lease?
Three channels: (1) Forum — post in the SVRC community forum for community and SVRC staff answers. (2) Email — reach the team directly at contact@roboticscenter.ai for order, setup, and integration questions. (3) Engineering — for leasing customers and pilot programs, dedicated engineering support is available by arrangement. Response time on email is typically 1 business day.
Where is Silicon Valley Robotics Center located?
Our flagship center is at 654 High St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 — near Stanford University. Same-day pickup for OpenArm, Mobile ALOHA, and more. Orders that need shipping are fulfilled within 2–3 business days for in-stock items. We also serve Boston, Chicago, and Houston. See Locations.
Can I rent a robot for research?
Yes. We offer robot leasing with short-term (1–3 month) and long-term (6–36 month) options. Available platforms include Unitree Go2, Booster K1, OpenArm, Mobile ALOHA, and the Unitree G1 humanoid. Palo Alto same-day pickup is available; nationwide shipping typically arrives within 5–7 business days. Contact us to confirm current inventory before placing a lease inquiry.
What is Open X-Embodiment?
Open X-Embodiment is a large-scale robot dataset combining RT-X, BridgeData, DROID, and others. Used to train foundation models like OpenVLA and Octo. See our Open X-Embodiment page and Models catalog.
Best robot for imitation learning?
WidowX, ALOHA, Franka, and OpenArm are common. Choice depends on cost, DOF, and task. See Robot Platforms Comparison and our Getting Started guide.
What happens if the robot breaks during my lease?
Hardware failures covered under normal operating conditions are handled by SVRC at no additional charge. We'll coordinate repair or swap out the unit to minimize your downtime — typically within 3–5 business days depending on location. Damage caused by misuse, drops, or modifications outside the agreed scope may incur a repair fee. Full terms are outlined in your lease agreement. If you're unsure, ask us before signing — we'd rather have a clear conversation up front than a dispute later. Contact us to discuss coverage specifics.
Can I convert my lease to a purchase?
Yes. All SVRC lease programs include a lease-to-own option. Payments already made can be credited (partially or fully, depending on lease term and platform) toward the purchase price of the unit. If you're confident mid-lease that you want to keep the hardware, contact us and we'll draft a purchase agreement. This is a common path for research labs and startups who start with a short trial and decide to commit after validating their use case. Talk to us about terms.