Explorer vs HSR Series
Side-by-side comparison of Explorer (OC Robotics) and HSR Series (DENSO) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- ExplorerUnited Kingdom
- HSR SeriesJapan
Year First Available
- Explorer2009
- HSR Series—
Verified Deployments
- Explorer0 Deployments
- HSR Series0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status
- ExplorerACTIVE
- HSR SeriesACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Reach
- Explorer2,500 mm
- HSR Series650 mm
Repeatability
- Explorer—
- HSR Series±0.01 mm
Payload
- Explorer20 kg
- HSR Series8 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- Explorer—
- HSR Series4
Max TCP Speed
- Explorer—
- HSR Series8.9 m/s
Robot Weight
- Explorer18.6 kg
- HSR Series32 kg
Performance
Duty Cycle
- Explorer—
- HSR Seriescontinuous 24 7
Vibration Damping
- Explorer—
- HSR Seriesactive model based
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- ExplorerControl and simulation unit
- HSR SeriesRC8A
Teach Pendant Type
- Explorer—
- HSR Serieswired button
Offline Programming
- Explorer—
- HSR SeriesWINCAPS III
End-Effector
Internal Cable Routing
- Explorer—
- HSR Seriesthrough arm
Pneumatic Lines
- Explorer—
- HSR Series4
Commercial
Service Network
- Explorer—
- HSR Seriesglobal
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United Kingdom | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2009 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Reach (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 2,500 mm | 650 mm |
| Repeatability (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | ±0.01 mm |
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 20 kg | 8 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 4 |
| Max TCP Speed (values differ) | — | 8.9 m/s |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 18.6 kg | 32 kg |
| Performance | ||
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | — | continuous 24 7 |
| Vibration Damping (values differ) | — | active model based |
| Controller & Programming | ||
| Controller Model (values differ) | Control and simulation unit | RC8A |
| Teach Pendant Type (values differ) | — | wired button |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | WINCAPS III |
| End-Effector | ||
| Internal Cable Routing (values differ) | — | through arm |
| Pneumatic Lines (values differ) | — | 4 |
| Commercial | ||
| Service Network (values differ) | — | global |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, Battery / Shift Runtime, Path Accuracy, IP Rating (Arm), IP Rating (Wrist), Cycle Time (25/305/25), MTBF, Safety Category, Dual Check Safety, Safety I/O Pairs, E-Stop Response, Safe Zone Count, Programming Languages, Digital Twin Support, Communication Protocols, ROS-Industrial Support, IoT / Cloud Platform, Cybersecurity Certs, Predictive Maintenance, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer (ISO), Electrical Lines, Price (USD), Warranty, Spare Parts Lead Time, Expected Service Life
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 | Explorer | HSR Series |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Explorer, HSR Series have 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 Explorer and HSR Series?
Explorer is made by OC Robotics, based in GB. HSR Series is made by DENSO, based in JP.
How do Explorer and HSR Series compare on the Robo Index?
Explorer grades AA on the Robo Index. HSR Series 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 Explorer compare to HSR Series?
Explorer has a reach of 2500 mm. HSR Series has a reach of 650 mm.
Are Explorer and HSR Series in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Industrial Arm on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Industrial Arm robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Industrial Arm TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: TCO of a 6-Axis Arm Cell: Hardware, EOAT, Integration, Programming.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Explorer and HSR Series?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Industrial Arm Vendor Selection: Capability Matrices and Proof Points.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
TCO of a 6-Axis Arm Cell: Hardware, EOAT, Integration, Programming
7 min readIndustrial Arms
Industrial Arm Vendor Selection: Capability Matrices and Proof Points
9 min readIndustrial Arms
Programming Approaches: Teach Pendant, Offline, AI-Assisted — What Each Costs You
8 min readIndustrial Arms
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
Explorer vs HSR Series compares two robots in the industrial-arm 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.