Aura vs Sawyer
Side-by-side comparison of Aura (Comau) and Sawyer (Rethink Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AuraItaly
- SawyerUnited States
Year First Available
- Aura2016
- Sawyer2015
Verified Deployments
- Aura0 Deployments
- Sawyer0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Aura$80,000 USD
- Sawyer$34,900 USD
Availability Status
- AuraACTIVE
- SawyerACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Reach
- Aura2,800 mm
- Sawyer1,260 mm
Repeatability
- Aura—
- Sawyer±0.01 mm
Payload
- Aura170 kg
- Sawyer4 kg
IP Rating
- Aura—
- SawyerIP54
Degrees of Freedom
- Aura6
- Sawyer7
Max TCP Speed
- Aura—
- Sawyer1.5 m/s
Robot Weight
- Aura—
- Sawyer19 kg
Mounting Options
- Auraupside down
- Sawyerfloor, ceiling, wall
Safety
Safety Rating
- AuraISO/TS 15066
- SawyerCat3 PLd
Force/Torque Sensing
- AuraYes
- Sawyerjoint level all
TCP Speed (Collaborative)
- Aura—
- Sawyer0.5 m/s
Power/Force Limiting
- Aura—
- Sawyer150 N
Safety I/O Pairs
- Aura—
- Sawyer2
Duty Cycle
- Aura—
- Sawyer24 7 continuous
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- Aura—
- Sawyer2 hrs
Time to Redeploy
- Aura—
- Sawyer10 min
No-Code Capable
- Aura—
- SawyerYes
Offline Programming
- Aura—
- SawyerYes
Programming Interface
- Aurano_code_gui
- Sawyerteach_pendant, drag_and_drop, code_python, code_ros
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Aura—
- Sawyeriso 9283 compatible
Tool Changer Support
- Aura—
- Sawyerautomatic
Integrated F/T Sensor
- Aura—
- SawyerYes
Wrist Power Supply
- Aura—
- Sawyer24V DC + 6 bar pneumatic
Software & Connectivity
SDK Languages
- Aura—
- SawyerPython, C++, FANUC KAREL, .NET
ROS Compatible
- Aura—
- SawyerYes
Fieldbus Protocols
- Aura—
- SawyerModbus TCP, TCP/IP
Digital Twin Support
- Aura—
- SawyerYes
Reliability
MTBF
- Aura—
- Sawyer90,000 hrs
Path Accuracy
- Aura—
- Sawyer±0.02 mm
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Aura$80,000 USD
- Sawyer$34,900 USD
Warranty
- Aura—
- Sawyer3 yrs
Lead Time
- Aura—
- Sawyer6 wks
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Italy | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $34,900 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Reach (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 2,800 mm | 1,260 mm |
| Repeatability (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | ±0.01 mm |
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 170 kg | 4 kg |
| IP Rating (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | IP54 |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | 7 |
| Max TCP Speed (values differ) | — | 1.5 m/s |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | — | 19 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | upside down | floor, ceiling, wall |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO/TS 15066 | Cat3 PLd |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | Yes | joint level all |
| TCP Speed (Collaborative) (values differ) | — | 0.5 m/s |
| Power/Force Limiting (values differ) | — | 150 N |
| Safety I/O Pairs (values differ) | — | 2 |
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | — | 24 7 continuous |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | — | 2 hrs |
| Time to Redeploy (values differ) | — | 10 min |
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | no_code_gui | teach_pendant, drag_and_drop, code_python, code_ros |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | — | iso 9283 compatible |
| Tool Changer Support (values differ) | — | automatic |
| Integrated F/T Sensor (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Wrist Power Supply (values differ) | — | 24V DC + 6 bar pneumatic |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | — | Python, C++, FANUC KAREL, .NET |
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | — | Modbus TCP, TCP/IP |
| Digital Twin Support (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| MTBF (values differ) | — | 90,000 hrs |
| Path Accuracy (values differ) | — | ±0.02 mm |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $34,900 USD |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 3 yrs |
| Lead Time (values differ) | — | 6 wks |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, CaaS / Month
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.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | Aura | Sawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $80,000 | $34,900 |
| Payback period | 19.2 mo | 8.4 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $170,000 | $215,100 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +213% | +616% |
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 Sawyer?
Aura is made by Comau, based in IT. Sawyer is made by Rethink Robotics, based in US.
When were Aura and Sawyer launched?
Aura launched in 2016. Sawyer launched in 2015.
How much does Aura cost compared to Sawyer?
Aura is listed at $80,000. Sawyer is listed at $34,900.
How do Aura and Sawyer compare on the Robo Index?
Aura grades AAA on the Robo Index. Sawyer 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.
How does the reach of Aura compare to Sawyer?
Aura has a reach of 2800 mm. Sawyer has a reach of 1260 mm.
Are Aura and Sawyer 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 Sawyer?
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 Sawyer 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.