Big Dog vs. Fly Boat Robot Chassis: Which AMR Platform Supports Heavier Custom Payloads?

Table of Contents

1. Direct Answer: Payload Capacity Decides the Platform
2. Side-by-Side Mechanical Comparison
3. Software and Open SDK Compatibility
4. Use-Case Fit: Heavy Loads vs. Agile Handling
5. Structured Comparison Table
6. Frequently Asked Questions

For automation engineers and R&D managers building a custom AMR, the chassis is the foundation that determines how much custom hardware the robot can carry, where it can operate, and how quickly it can be deployed. Reeman offers two differentiated chassis platforms: the Big Dog Robot Chassis and the Fly Boat Robot Chassis. Fly Boat's 300 kg rated payload is three times Big Dog's 100 kg ceiling, making it the clear choice when raw load capacity is the deciding factor.

Direct Answer: Payload Capacity Decides the Platform

When an automation team evaluates an AMR chassis, the first question is not about sensors or software—it is about how much the robot must carry. Payload capacity cascades into motor torque, wheel diameter, braking distance, frame stiffness, and battery discharge rate. Once the load requirement is fixed, chassis geometry determines whether the robot can turn in your aisles, pass under conveyors, and ride your elevators.

The Big Dog Robot Chassis is rated for 100 kg and built around a compact, four-wheel-drive platform. The Fly Boat Robot Chassis is rated for 300 kg and adds a 10 cm autonomous jacking mechanism for shelf handling. If your custom AMR must repeatedly transport more than 100 kg, Fly Boat is the heavier-duty platform by a wide margin.

Side-by-Side Mechanical Comparison

Payload capacity

The most consequential difference is the rated load. Fly Boat's 300 kg capacity supports industrial carts, full tote racks, and custom top structures such as collaborative robot arms or dispensing equipment. Big Dog's 100 kg capacity is better suited to lighter delivery pods, inspection payloads, and R&D prototypes where agility matters more than brute load.

Dimensions and footprint

Big Dog measures 704 mm (L) × 470 mm (W) × 397 mm (H) and weighs approximately 55 kg. Fly Boat measures 804 mm (L) × 590 mm (W) × 317 mm (H) and weighs 65 kg. Big Dog is 100 mm shorter and 120 mm narrower, which helps in narrow corridors. Fly Boat's lower 317 mm height improves stability under heavy loads but requires wider turning clearances.

Ground clearance and mobility

Big Dog uses a 5.5-inch wheel motor with four-wheel drive and an advanced suspension design intended for semi-rugged or uneven indoor floors. Fly Boat uses the same 5.5-inch wheel motor but is optimized for flat warehouse and factory floors, trading off-road articulation for high-load stability. Fly Boat's standout mobility feature is its 10 cm autonomous jacking height, which lets the chassis lift shelves or carts for transport without external equipment.

Battery configuration

Both chassis use a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) 38.4 V / 25 Ah battery. Runtime is identical: approximately 8 hours under full rated load and up to 25 hours without payload. A full recharge takes 6 hours, and both support automatic return-to-charger behavior. The shared battery chemistry means procurement and spares management are the same regardless of which platform you choose.

Software and Open SDK Compatibility

Both the Big Dog and Fly Boat chassis ship with an open Android SDK running on Android 5.1 or above. Reeman exposes the full API for navigation, perception, fleet dispatch, and elevator integration, which means development teams can build custom behaviors without replacing the underlying autonomy stack.

• Navigation API: Access to laser SLAM maps, localization, and ±10 cm precision positioning.
• Perception API: Fusion data from dual 3D cameras and LiDAR for obstacle detection and dynamic path planning.
• Fleet API: Centralized dispatch, task assignment, and multi-robot coordination.
• Elevator API: Autonomous floor-to-floor calling and entry/exit logic.

Because the software architecture is shared, switching between Big Dog and Fly Boat—or running a mixed fleet—does not require rewriting core autonomy code. The main customization effort shifts to the application layer and the mechanical interface mounted on top of the chassis.

Use-Case Fit: Heavy Loads vs. Agile Handling

Choose Big Dog for rugged, lighter-load autonomy

Big Dog fits projects where the robot must navigate tighter spaces, handle uneven or semi-rugged floors, or serve as a rapid prototyping platform. Its 100 kg payload is sufficient for guided-tour kiosks, security patrol enclosures, laboratory equipment carts, and light delivery pods. The four-wheel-drive suspension and compact wheelbase make it forgiving in older facilities with worn floors or threshold transitions.

Choose Fly Boat for high-load material handling

Fly Boat is the platform to spec when the AMR must carry heavy parts, full shelves, or large containers. The 300 kg payload supports work-in-progress transport in automotive and electronics assembly, bulk goods movement in distribution centers, and any custom superstructure that adds significant weight. The 10 cm jacking height further extends its use to shelf-carrying workflows where the robot must lift and relocate storage units independently.

When to run both

Large facilities sometimes deploy Fly Boat for heavy line-haul between zones and Big Dog for lightweight last-meter delivery or inspection tasks. Because both platforms share navigation, battery, and SDK standards, a mixed fleet can be managed from the same dispatch system.

Structured Comparison Table

Frequently Asked Questions