Aura vs UR18
Side-by-side comparison of Aura (Comau) and UR18 (Universal Robots A/S (subsidiary of Teradyne)) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Last-Mile Delivery buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AuraItaly
- UR18Denmark
Year First Available
- Aura2016
- UR18—
Verified Deployments
- Aura0 Deployments
- UR180 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Aura$80,000 USD
- UR18$65,065–$68,435 USD
Availability Status
- AuraACTIVE
- UR18ACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- Aura170 kg
- UR1818 kg
Max TCP Speed
- Aura—
- UR184 m/s
IP Rating
- Aura—
- UR18IP65
Reach
- Aura2,800 mm
- UR18950 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Aura6
- UR18—
Robot Weight
- Aura—
- UR1839.2 kg
Mounting Options
- Auraupside down
- UR18floor, ceiling, wall, inverted
Safety
Safety Rating
- AuraISO/TS 15066
- UR18Cat3 PLd
Force/Torque Sensing
- AuraYes
- UR18joint level all
Duty Cycle
- Aura—
- UR1824 7 continuous
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- Aura—
- UR181 hrs
No-Code Capable
- Aura—
- UR18Yes
Offline Programming
- Aura—
- UR18Yes
Programming Interface
- Aurano_code_gui
- UR18teach_pendant, drag_and_drop
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Aura—
- UR18iso 9283
Integrated F/T Sensor
- Aura—
- UR18Yes
Wrist Power Supply
- Aura—
- UR1824V DC + pneumatic
Software & Connectivity
SDK Languages
- Aura—
- UR18Python, URScript
Fieldbus Protocols
- Aura—
- UR18EtherCAT, Profinet, Modbus TCP
Digital Twin Support
- Aura—
- UR18Yes
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Aura$80,000 USD
- UR18$65,065–$68,435 USD
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Italy | Denmark |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $65,065–$68,435 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Payload (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 170 kg | 18 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | — | 4 m/s |
| IP Rating (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | — | IP65 |
| Reach (values differ) | 2,800 mm | 950 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | — |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | — | 39.2 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | upside down | floor, ceiling, wall, inverted |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO/TS 15066 | Cat3 PLd |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | Yes | joint level all |
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | — | 24 7 continuous |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | — | 1 hrs |
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | no_code_gui | teach_pendant, drag_and_drop |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | — | iso 9283 |
| Integrated F/T Sensor (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Wrist Power Supply (values differ) | — | 24V DC + pneumatic |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | — | Python, URScript |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | — | EtherCAT, Profinet, Modbus TCP |
| Digital Twin Support (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $65,065–$68,435 USD |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, Repeatability, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Time to Redeploy, Tool Changer Support, ROS Compatible, 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 | UR18 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $80,000 | $66,750 |
| Payback period | 19.2 mo | 16.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $170,000 | $183,250 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +213% | +275% |
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 UR18?
Aura is made by Comau, based in IT. UR18 is made by Universal Robots A/S (subsidiary of Teradyne), based in DK.
How do Aura and UR18 compare on the Robo Index?
Aura grades AAA on the Robo Index. UR18 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 UR18?
Aura has a reach of 2800 mm. UR18 has a reach of 950 mm.
Are Aura and UR18 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 UR18?
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 UR18 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.