Aura vs M4 XBots
Side-by-side comparison of Aura (Comau) and M4 XBots (Planar Motor) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Hospitality & F&B buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AuraItaly
- M4 XBotsCanada
Year First Available
- Aura2016
- M4 XBots—
Verified Deployments
- Aura0 Deployments
- M4 XBots0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Aura$80,000 USD
- M4 XBotsContact for quote
Availability Status
- AuraACTIVE
- M4 XBotsACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- Aura170 kg
- M4 XBots40 kg
Robot Weight
- Aura—
- M4 XBots1.8 kg
Max TCP Speed
- Aura—
- M4 XBots3 m/s
Reach
- Aura2,800 mm
- M4 XBots—
Degrees of Freedom
- Aura6
- M4 XBots—
Repeatability
- Aura—
- M4 XBots±0.01 mm
Mounting Options
- Auraupside down
- M4 XBotsmagnetic
IP Rating
- Aura—
- M4 XBotsIP69K
Safety
Safety Rating
- AuraISO/TS 15066
- M4 XBotsIP69K
Force/Torque Sensing
- AuraYes
- M4 XBots—
Ease of Use
Programming Interface
- Aurano_code_gui
- M4 XBots—
Software & Connectivity
Fieldbus Protocols
- Aura—
- M4 XBotsall common fieldbus systems
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Aura$80,000 USD
- M4 XBotsContact for quote
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Italy | Canada |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $80,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Payload (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 170 kg | 40 kg |
| Robot Weight (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | — | 1.8 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | — | 3 m/s |
| Reach (values differ) | 2,800 mm | — |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | — |
| Repeatability (values differ) | — | ±0.01 mm |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | upside down | magnetic |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP69K |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO/TS 15066 | IP69K |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Programming Interface (values differ) | no_code_gui | — |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | — | all common fieldbus systems |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $80,000 USD | Contact for quote |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Setup Time, Time to Redeploy, No-Code Capable, Offline Programming, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, ROS Compatible, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month, Warranty, Lead Time
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | Aura | M4 XBots |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $80,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 19.2 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $170,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +213% | — |
M4 XBots has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
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 M4 XBots?
Aura is made by Comau, based in IT. M4 XBots is made by Planar Motor, based in CA.
How do Aura and M4 XBots compare on the Robo Index?
Aura grades AAA on the Robo Index. M4 XBots grades BBB. 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 M4 XBots 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 M4 XBots?
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
Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings
6 min readCollaborative Robots
Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Running a Cobot Pilot in a Manual Production Line
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
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About this comparison
Aura vs M4 XBots 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.