Aura vs Franka Emika Panda

Side-by-side comparison of Aura (Comau) and Franka Emika Panda (Franka Robotics GmbH) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.

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Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.

AuraAAA

Franka Emika PandaAA

Layer 1: Identity & Trust

Manufacturer Country

AuraItaly
Franka Emika PandaGermany

Year First Available

Aura2016
Franka Emika Panda2017

Verified Deployments

Aura0 Deployments
Franka Emika Panda0 Deployments

Layer 2: Operational

Price

Aura$80,000 USD
Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD

Availability Status

AuraACTIVE
Franka Emika PandaACTIVE

Arm Mechanics

Robot Weight

Aura—
Franka Emika Panda11 kg

Payload

Aura170 kg
Franka Emika Panda3 kg

Reach

Aura2,800 mm
Franka Emika Panda1,260 mm

Degrees of Freedom

Aura6
Franka Emika Panda—

Repeatability

Aura—
Franka Emika Panda±0.1 mm

Mounting Options

Auraupside down
Franka Emika Pandafloor, ceiling, wall

IP Rating

Aura—
Franka Emika PandaIP54

Safety

Safety Rating

AuraISO/TS 15066
Franka Emika PandaISO/TS 15066

Force/Torque Sensing

AuraYes
Franka Emika Pandaintegrated wrist ft

Ease of Use

No-Code Capable

Aura—
Franka Emika PandaYes

Offline Programming

Aura—
Franka Emika PandaYes

Programming Interface

Aurano_code_gui
Franka Emika PandaFranka Emika API

End-Effector

Tool Flange Standard

Aura—
Franka Emika PandaISO 9409-1-A50

Software & Connectivity

ROS Compatible

Aura—
Franka Emika PandaYes

Fieldbus Protocols

Aura—
Franka Emika PandaEtherCAT

Commercial

Price (USD)

Aura$80,000 USD
Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD

	AuracobotComau AAARobo Index	Franka Emika PandacobotFranka Robotics GmbH AARobo Index
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country (values differ)	Italy	Germany
Year First Available (values differ)	2016	2017
Verified Deployments	0 Deployments	0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price (values differ)	$80,000 USD	$30,000 USD
Availability Status	ACTIVE	ACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Arm Mechanics
Robot Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ)	—	11 kg
Payload (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ)	170 kg	3 kg
Reach (values differ)	2,800 mm	1,260 mm
Degrees of Freedom (values differ)	6	—
Repeatability (values differ)	—	±0.1 mm
Mounting Options (values differ)	upside down	floor, ceiling, wall
IP Rating (values differ)	—	IP54
Safety
Safety Rating	ISO/TS 15066	ISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing (values differ)	Yes	integrated wrist ft
Ease of Use
No-Code Capable (values differ)	—	Yes
Offline Programming (values differ)	—	Yes
Programming Interface (values differ)	no_code_gui	Franka Emika API
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard (values differ)	—	ISO 9409-1-A50
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible (values differ)	—	Yes
Fieldbus Protocols (values differ)	—	EtherCAT
Commercial
Price (USD) (values differ)	$80,000 USD	$30,000 USD

Insufficient data for full comparison

The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, Max TCP Speed, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Setup Time, Time to Redeploy, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month, Warranty, Lead Time

best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ

ROI Comparison

Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.

Robots (fleet)

Hours / day

Labor $/hr (USD)

Days / year

Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000

Metric	Aura	Franka Emika Panda
Investment	$80,000	$30,000
Payback period	19.2 mo	7.2 mo
Net savings (5 yr)	$170,000	$220,000
ROI (5 yr)	+213%	+733%

Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.

Trade-offs at a glance

Frequently asked

Who makes Aura and Franka Emika Panda?

Aura is made by Comau, based in IT. Franka Emika Panda is made by Franka Robotics GmbH, based in DE.

When were Aura and Franka Emika Panda launched?

Aura launched in 2016. Franka Emika Panda launched in 2017.

How much does Aura cost compared to Franka Emika Panda?

Aura is listed at $80,000. Franka Emika Panda is listed at $30,000.

How do Aura and Franka Emika Panda compare on the Robo Index?

Aura grades AAA on the Robo Index. Franka Emika Panda grades AA. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.

Are Aura and Franka Emika Panda in the same category?

Both robots are classified as Cobot on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.

What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Cobot robots?

Hardware cost is one input. Cobot TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings.

What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Aura and Franka Emika Panda?

Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing.

Going deeper — picking the right robot

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About this comparison

Aura vs Franka Emika Panda compares two robots in the cobot category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Index is calculated.