Explorer vs KR 120 R3500-2 P
Side-by-side comparison of Explorer (OC Robotics) and KR 120 R3500-2 P (KUKA Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- ExplorerUnited Kingdom
- KR 120 R3500-2 PGermany
Year First Available
- Explorer2009
- KR 120 R3500-2 P—
Verified Deployments
- Explorer0 Deployments
- KR 120 R3500-2 P0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status
- ExplorerACTIVE
- KR 120 R3500-2 PACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- Explorer20 kg
- KR 120 R3500-2 P120 kg
Reach
- Explorer2,500 mm
- KR 120 R3500-2 P3,505 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 P6
Repeatability
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 P±0.05 mm
Robot Weight
- Explorer18.6 kg
- KR 120 R3500-2 P1,283 kg
IP Rating (Arm)
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 PIP65
IP Rating (Wrist)
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 PIP65/IP67
Performance
MTBF
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 P70,000 hrs
Duty Cycle
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 Pcontinuous 24 7
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- ExplorerControl and simulation unit
- KR 120 R3500-2 PKR C5; KR C4
Programming Languages
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 PKRL
Teach Pendant Type
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 Psmart pad
Offline Programming
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 PKUKA.Sim
Connectivity
ROS-Industrial Support
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 Pcommunity
IoT / Cloud Platform
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 PKUKA Connect
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 PISO 9409-1
Internal Cable Routing
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 Pthrough arm and wrist
Commercial
Warranty
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 P1 yrs
Service Network
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 Pglobal
Expected Service Life
- Explorer—
- KR 120 R3500-2 P15 yrs
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United Kingdom | Germany |
| 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 | ||
| Payload (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 20 kg | 120 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 2,500 mm | 3,505 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | — | ±0.05 mm |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 18.6 kg | 1,283 kg |
| IP Rating (Arm) (values differ) | — | IP65 |
| IP Rating (Wrist) (values differ) | — | IP65/IP67 |
| Performance | ||
| MTBF (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | — | 70,000 hrs |
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | — | continuous 24 7 |
| Controller & Programming | ||
| Controller Model (values differ) | Control and simulation unit | KR C5; KR C4 |
| Programming Languages (values differ) | — | KRL |
| Teach Pendant Type (values differ) | — | smart pad |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | KUKA.Sim |
| Connectivity | ||
| ROS-Industrial Support (values differ) | — | community |
| IoT / Cloud Platform (values differ) | — | KUKA Connect |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | — | ISO 9409-1 |
| Internal Cable Routing (values differ) | — | through arm and wrist |
| Commercial | ||
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 1 yrs |
| Service Network (values differ) | — | global |
| Expected Service Life (values differ) | — | 15 yrs |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, Battery / Shift Runtime, Path Accuracy, Max TCP Speed, Cycle Time (25/305/25), Vibration Damping, Safety Category, Dual Check Safety, Safety I/O Pairs, E-Stop Response, Safe Zone Count, Digital Twin Support, Communication Protocols, Cybersecurity Certs, Predictive Maintenance, Tool Changer (ISO), Pneumatic Lines, Electrical Lines, Price (USD), Spare Parts 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 | Explorer | KR 120 R3500-2 P |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Explorer, KR 120 R3500-2 P 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 KR 120 R3500-2 P?
Explorer is made by OC Robotics, based in GB. KR 120 R3500-2 P is made by KUKA Robotics, based in DE.
How do Explorer and KR 120 R3500-2 P compare on the Robo Index?
Explorer grades AA on the Robo Index. KR 120 R3500-2 P 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 KR 120 R3500-2 P?
Explorer has a reach of 2500 mm. KR 120 R3500-2 P has a reach of 3100 mm.
Are Explorer and KR 120 R3500-2 P 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 KR 120 R3500-2 P?
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 KR 120 R3500-2 P 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.