# Robotics patent attorneys for automation startups

> Flat-fee robotics patent attorney services for robotics and automation founders. Start with a $999 patentability search, refunded if it isn't patentable.

Page: https://arapackelaw.com/industries/robotics/  
Title: Robotics Patent Attorney for Robotics and Automation Startups  
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://arapackelaw.com/) / [Industries](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/) / [Robotics](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/robotics/)

We protect the mechanism, the control software, the robot's look and its name, with claims that cover the hardware and what it does. One flat fee for each step.

- $999 patentability search
- No hourly billing
- Registered patent attorneys

## For the people who build robots.

From a lab prototype to a company shipping robots to factories and homes, the work starts the same way. Find out what is new, then protect it before a pilot, a trade show or a paper makes it public.

- **Robotics startups** Founders building new robots, arms and grippers, protected before the first pilot customer or investor demo.
- **Industrial automation teams** Work cells, material handling and inspection systems for factories and warehouses.
- **Mobile and field robots** Robots that move through warehouses, farms, hospitals and homes, with the navigation and safety systems that run them.
- **Robot software and AI teams** Motion planning, perception and learning methods, claimed as the technical process the robot performs.

## Four things worth protecting in a robot.

A robot combines mechanical, electrical and software inventions, and each can be protected. A patent on how it works, a design patent on how it looks and a trademark on its name each stop a different kind of copy.

### The mechanism and how it moves (utility patent)

Arms, joints, grippers, actuators and drive trains. Claims are written around what makes your mechanism work better than what is in use today, such as more reach, less weight or a safer grip.

- Arms, joints and end effectors
- Grippers and hands
- Actuators and drives
- Mobile bases

### Control, perception and software (utility patent)

Motion planning, sensor fusion, control loops and learning methods, claimed as a system and as the method it performs, tied to a physical result such as a faster pick or a safer stop.

- Motion planning and control
- Vision and sensor fusion
- Robot learning
- Fleet management

### The look of the robot (design patent)

The ornamental design of the robot's body, a gripper, a teach pendant or a control screen, protected for 15 years from grant.

- Robot bodies and housings
- Grippers and tools
- Pendants and control screens

Covered by The RLG Guarantee (USPTO denies it, full refund).

### The product and company name (trademark)

Clear and file the name before it goes on the robot, the data sheet and the trade show booth, so the name customers know is one you can keep.

- Robot and platform names
- Company names
- Logos

Covered by The RLG Guarantee (Approved, or your money back).

**Some things stay secret.** Training data, tuning parameters and manufacturing methods no one can learn from the finished robot may be worth more as trade secrets than as a published patent. Your attorney tells you which on your first call.

## Search, provisional, utility. Flat fees at every step.

Every step is quoted before any work begins, and the search fee is credited when you file. Most robotics founders file a provisional before a pilot, a trade show or a paper, then the full application within 12 months.

### Start here, Patentability search

**$999** flat fee. Patentable or your money back. Credited when you file. Report in about 5 days.

- An invention discovery call with your attorney
- A search of US and foreign patents and published applications
- A written patentability report and a review call

Covered by [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/) (Not patentable, full refund).

### Then, Provisional patent

**$2,500 to $3,500** flat fee. . Patent pending the day it is filed.

- A strategy call to capture how the robot works
- Drafted by a registered patent attorney
- You review and approve it before filing

Covered by [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/) (Patentability issues, full refund).

### Within 12 months, Non-provisional patent

**$7,000 to $12,000** flat fee. Drawings and USPTO filing fees included. Filed before your 12-month deadline.

- Mechanical, electrical and software claims
- Formal drawings and USPTO filing fees
- Complex systems quoted flat on your call

Flat fee, not covered by the guarantee.

### Alongside the patent

- **Design patent, $3,200.** For the robot's body or control screen, office actions included. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- **Trademark, $2,000.** For the product name, USPTO fee for one class included. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.

## Filing, pilots and safety. Plan them together.

A patent decides who can make and sell the robot. Pilots, trade shows and papers decide when others first see it, and safety standards shape how it is built. The timing of each shapes the others.

### Patent, who can make and sell it

1. **Search** ($999). Patentable, or your money back
2. **Provisional** (File first). Patent pending, before the pilot
3. **Full application** (Month 12). Within 12 months
4. **Examination** (USPTO). The USPTO reviews the claims
5. **Granted**. Rights you can enforce

### Product, when others see it

1. **Prototype** (Use an NDA). Lab builds and test rigs
2. **Partners** (Use an NDA). Integrators, suppliers and manufacturers
3. **Pilot** (Disclosure risk). A customer runs it on site
4. **Safety review** (Standards). Risk assessment against standards
5. **Production**. Sales and new versions

**File before the pilot or the paper.** A pilot at a customer site, a trade show demo, a research paper or a video of the robot at work can make an invention public. The US gives you one year after your own disclosure, but most other countries do not. File at least a provisional first.

- **Claim it so one company infringes.** When a robot works with a cloud service or a customer's own equipment, write claims that one party performs in full, such as the robot alone or the controller alone. Under Akamai v. Limelight (2015), steps split between companies are hard to enforce unless one of them directs or controls the others. [How to write patent claims](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-to-write-claims/)
- **Safety standards sit beside your patent.** Standards such as ISO 10218 for industrial robots set safety requirements, and meeting them is separate from owning the design. A safety feature that works in a new way can be patentable in its own right. [Utility patents explained](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents-explained/)
- **Joint development needs clear ownership.** Integrators, suppliers and research partners often help build the first systems. Agree in writing who owns new inventions before the work starts, since a co-inventor can end up a co-owner of the patent. [The value of an NDA](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property/the-value-of-an-nda/)

*General information, not legal or safety compliance advice. The standards that apply depend on the robot and where it is used.*

## Services for robotics companies.

One firm for the patent, the brand and the agreements around them.

- [Utility patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents.md). Protect how the robot works.
- [Provisional patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patents.md). Patent pending before a pilot or a show. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- [Design patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patents.md). Protect how the robot looks. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- [Trademarks](https://arapackelaw.com/trademarks/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/trademarks.md). Register the product and company name. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- [AI patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/ai-patent-attorney/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/ai-patent-attorney.md). Protect perception and learning methods.
- [Technology transfer agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/technology-transfer-agreements/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/technology-transfer-agreements.md). Move technology between labs and partners.
- [Non-disclosure agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/non-disclosure-agreements-ndas/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/non-disclosure-agreements-ndas.md). Share with integrators and suppliers on your terms.
- [Patent litigation](https://arapackelaw.com/ip-litigation/patent-litigation/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/ip-litigation/patent-litigation.md). Enforce or defend a robotics patent.

## Before you file.

### Can a robot be patented?

Yes. New mechanisms, grippers, actuators, sensors and the control methods that run them can be patented when they are new and not obvious. Most robots combine known parts, so the claims focus on what your design does that earlier ones do not, which is why the work starts with a search.

### Should I patent the hardware or the software?

Often both. Mechanical claims cover the arm or the gripper, and system and method claims cover what the controller does. Software tied to a physical result, such as moving an arm more precisely or stopping safely near a person, is on firmer ground under the abstract idea test than software that only processes data.

### Can robot software and AI be patented?

When it is claimed as a specific technical process that changes how the robot senses, plans or moves, often yes. A general idea, such as using machine learning to pick items, is not enough on its own. The patentability search shows where your method stands before you file.

### Do I need a design patent for my robot?

If customers recognize the robot by its look, a design patent protects that appearance for 15 years from grant, whether it is the body, a gripper or a control screen. It covers lookalikes even when the copy works differently inside, so many robotics companies file both a utility and a design patent.

### Who owns an invention made with a partner or a university?

It depends on who contributed to the claims and on your agreements. Without an agreement, each co-owner of a US patent can use and license it without the others' consent. Settle ownership in writing before joint development, a pilot program or sponsored research begins.

### How much does a robotics patent cost with your firm?

Flat fees at every step. A $999 patentability search, a provisional application at $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the invention, and a non-provisional application at $7,000 to $12,000 with drawings and USPTO filing fees included. A design patent for the robot's look is $3,200. Every fee is quoted before work begins, and the search fee is credited toward your application.

### What does The RLG Guarantee cover for robotics?

The patentability search, the provisional application, design patents and trademarks. If the search finds your invention is not novel, you get a full refund or another search. If patentability issues come up on your provisional, a full refund or more searches. If the USPTO denies your design application, you get a full refund. If it refuses your trademark, you get a refund or a new mark. Non-provisional applications are not covered. Refunds are subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter.

## Your attorneys

- [Andrew Rapacke](https://arapackelaw.com/learn-more/the-team/andrew-rapacke/), Managing Partner, Registered Patent Attorney. Electrical and computer engineering. Former Naval Engineering Officer.
- [Ken Brooks](https://arapackelaw.com/team/ken-brooks/), Registered Patent Attorney. Software, AI and machine learning, electrical and mechanical systems.

Meet the team at https://arapackelaw.com/learn-more/the-team/

## Go deeper before you file.

- [How to Write Patent Claims That Actually Protect Your Invention](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-to-write-claims/)
- [Autonomous Vehicle Patents: What Founders and Engineers Need to Know](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/autonomous-vehicle-patents/)
- [Design Patent vs Utility Patent: Shield Your Product Design with the Right Legal Protection](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patent-vs-utility-patent/)
- [Provisional Patent Application: The Fastest Way to Get Patent Pending](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patent-application/)
- [What Is Patent Virtual Marking, and Why It Matters for Your Patent Rights](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/patent-virtual-marking/)
- [5 Examples of Trade Secrets and How They Fit into Your Intellectual Property Strategy](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property/examples-of-trade-secrets/)

[All articles](https://arapackelaw.com/learning-center/)

## Other industries

- [3D printing](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/3d-printing/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/3d-printing.md). Printers, processes, materials and the products they make.
- [Aerospace](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/aerospace/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/aerospace.md). Aircraft, drones and spacecraft, protected before the first public flight.
- [AI and machine learning](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ai-machine-learning/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ai-machine-learning.md). Models, training methods and the AI features inside your product.
- [Autonomous vehicles](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/autonomous-vehicles/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/autonomous-vehicles.md). Sensing, navigation and control systems for vehicles that drive themselves.
- [Blockchain](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/blockchain/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/blockchain.md). Protocols, wallets and the technical methods behind decentralized products.
- [Computer hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/computer-hardware/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/computer-hardware.md). Components, peripherals and the systems that tie them together.
- [Consumer electronics](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-electronics/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-electronics.md). Devices people carry and use every day, from how they work to how they look.
- [Consumer products](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-products/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-products.md). Everyday products and the brands on them, protected before launch.
- [Cybersecurity](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/cybersecurity/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/cybersecurity.md). Security software and hardware, and what to patent or keep secret.
- [Defense](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense.md). Defense technology, planned around contracts and export rules.
- [Digital health](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/digital-health/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/digital-health.md). Telehealth, remote monitoring and health apps, built around patient data.
- [E-commerce](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ecommerce/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ecommerce.md). Online brands and Amazon sellers, from the trademark to the product itself.
- [Electrical hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical.md). Power electronics, controls, sensors, batteries and motors, from circuit to system.
- [Energy and clean tech](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/energy/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/energy.md). Batteries, solar, storage, charging and the grid, from the cell to the system.
- [Fintech](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/fintech/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/fintech.md). Payments, lending and trading technology, claimed as technical improvements.
- [Gaming](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/gaming/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/gaming.md). Game engines, mechanics, controllers and titles, protected before the reveal.
- [Medical devices](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/medical-devices/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/medical-devices.md). Devices, diagnostics and software as a medical device, timed with the FDA.
- [Semiconductors](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/semiconductors/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/semiconductors.md). Chip design, fabrication processes and packaging.
- [Software and SaaS](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/software-saas/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/software-saas.md). The methods your platform performs, protected however the code is written.
- [Sporting goods](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/sporting-goods/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/sporting-goods.md). Equipment and gear, from how it performs to the design customers recognize.

## Next steps

- [Book a free strategy call](https://arapackelaw.com/contact-us/) with a registered patent attorney, or call (954) 951-0154
- [Take the Intelligent IP Quiz](https://arapackelaw.com/intelligent-ip-quiz/) to see what to protect first
- [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/), the refund promise on four services

General information, not legal advice.