Aura vs Spark
Side-by-side comparison of Aura (Comau) and Spark (Standard Bots) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AuraItaly
- SparkUnited States
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Year First Available
- Aura2016
- Spark—
Verified Deployments
- Aura0 Deployments
- Spark0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Aura$80,000 USD
- Spark$29,500 USD
Availability Status
- AuraACTIVE
- SparkACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Robot Weight
- Aura—
- Spark79 kg
Max TCP Speed
- Aura—
- Spark4 m/s
Payload
- Aura170 kg
- Spark7 kg
Reach
- Aura2,800 mm
- Spark900 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Aura6
- Spark6
Repeatability
- Aura—
- Spark±0.025 mm
Mounting Options
- Auraupside down
- Sparkfloor
IP Rating
- Aura—
- SparkIP69K
Safety
Safety Rating
- AuraISO/TS 15066
- SparkISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing
- AuraYes
- Sparknone
Ease of Use
No-Code Capable
- Aura—
- SparkYes
Offline Programming
- Aura—
- SparkNo
Programming Interface
- Aurano_code_gui
- Sparkno-code app
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- Aura—
- SparkNo
Fieldbus Protocols
- Aura—
- SparkEthernet/IP
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Aura$80,000 USD
- Spark$29,500 USD
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Italy | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $29,500 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Robot Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | — | 79 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | — | 4 m/s |
| Payload (values differ) | 170 kg | 7 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 2,800 mm | 900 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 | 6 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | — | ±0.025 mm |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | upside down | floor |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP69K |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating | ISO/TS 15066 | ISO/TS 15066 |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | Yes | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | No |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | no_code_gui | no-code app |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | — | No |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | — | Ethernet/IP |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $29,500 USD |
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, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, 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 | Spark |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $80,000 | $29,500 |
| Payback period | 19.2 mo | 7.1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $170,000 | $220,500 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +213% | +747% |
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 Spark?
Aura is made by Comau, based in IT. Spark is made by Standard Bots, based in US.
How much does Aura cost compared to Spark?
Aura is listed at $80,000. Spark is listed at $29,500.
How do Aura and Spark compare on the Robo Index?
Aura grades AAA on the Robo Index. Spark grades A. 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 Spark?
Aura has a reach of 2800 mm. Spark has a reach of 1300 mm.
Are Aura and Spark 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 Spark?
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 Spark 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.