What is included in a robot rental?

When a company looks into hiring a humanoid robot for the first time, the most common question is not "how much does it cost" but "what do I actually get for the money". A robot is not goods that get sent to you in a box for you to switch on. It is a service in which a substantial part of the value is created by the people around it: the operator, scenario preparation, technical support and logistics. In this article we go through what belongs in a standard rental, what is arranged individually and what is never included in the price, so that you can compare offers like for like.

Why a robot rental is not just "borrowing a machine"

A humanoid robot such as the Unitree G1 (our MONTARI model), its educational version NOVA (G1 EDU) or the robot dog Go2 (ORYX) is not a "switch on and use" device. It requires calibration, loading and fine-tuning a scenario, checking the environment and, during the event, almost always the presence of a person who controls or supervises it.

That is exactly why the rental is sold as a complete service, not as bare equipment. Most of the value lies in the preparation and operation, not in the hardware itself. Reputable rental companies abroad confirm this: the price usually includes transport, setup, a trained technician and insurance, because without them the robot at an event would be nothing but an expensive mannequin.

For you as the client this means one thing: when comparing offers, do not look only at the number per day but at everything that number includes.

What is included in a rental as standard

With a serious provider the core of the service is the following package. The specific scope differs according to the type of event (a single-day event versus a multi-day deployment), but this is the skeleton you should see in every offer.

• The robot itself, ready for deployment (charged, calibrated, tested).
• An operator or technician on site who controls the robot and supervises safe operation.
• Preparation and fine-tuning of the performance or interaction scenario before the event.
• Installation and dismantling on site, including a check of the space and floor.
• Technical support for the whole duration of the rental.
• Basic insurance of the equipment during operation.

The operator and scenario preparation: the heart of the service

The most underestimated item is the operator's work. A humanoid robot in 2026 is not a fully autonomous creature that can manage on its own at an event. Many "autonomous" demonstrations actually rely on teleoperation or on a pre-prepared scenario that a person triggers and corrects in real time.

The operator ensures smooth interaction, responds to the crowd, deals with unexpected situations and above all guards safety. Without them the robot would not be able to respond sensibly to an unfamiliar situation or recover from an error.

The second big item is scenario preparation. A good provider goes through with you before the event what the robot should do, what the interaction with people should look like and what impression you want to achieve. This time is included in the price even though you do not see it directly at the event.

Examples: what the scope looks like for different events

To keep it from being abstract, let us look at three typical scenarios and what you get in them as standard.

• Event (store opening, gala, trade fair): the robot, an operator on site, a fine-tuned performance scenario, setup and dismantling as a complete turnkey service.
• Multi-day deployment (shop, showroom, exhibition lasting several days): a lower daily rate thanks to the length of the rental, an operator on site and greater emphasis on a repeatable scenario aligned with your staff.
• Educational format (school, university, workshop): the NOVA model (G1 EDU), an adapted explanatory scenario and accompaniment by a lecturer or operator.

What is not included in the price and what to watch out for

Just as important as knowing what you get is knowing what needs to be arranged separately. This is where misunderstandings between the client and the provider most often arise.

We have a simple rule: transport is never part of the rental price. It is charged separately according to the location, because the cost of transporting the robot to the other end of Slovakia is completely different from an event in Bratislava. The refundable deposit is also handled separately, and its amount depends on the length of the rental, the way it is used and the location.

All prices are quoted excluding VAT. Also watch out for unrealistically low offers where all you really get is borrowed hardware and you carry the risk yourself.

• Transport to the venue and back (always separate, according to location).
• Refundable deposit (according to the length of rental, use and location).
• VAT (all prices are quoted excluding VAT).
• Special scenario modifications beyond the agreement, branding or costumes.
• Extended operation beyond the agreed number of hours.

Recommendation for the client

When comparing offers, ask for them to be itemised. A serious provider will tell you openly what is in the price and what costs extra, including transport and the deposit. If an offer seems suspiciously cheap, it is almost certainly missing the operator, preparation or insurance, and the risk is shifted to you.

For most companies the fully serviced event format makes the most sense, where the provider's team takes care of everything and you focus on your guests. If you are planning a multi-day deployment in a showroom, ask about the daily rate for a longer rental and about aligning the programme with your own staff.

We will gladly prepare a specific scope and a tailored quote at info@robotrental.sk. You can find a detailed overview of the individual formats on the rental types page: /typy-prenajmov.

Related service: Rental types