Explorer vs KR AGILUS ultra

Side-by-side comparison of Explorer (OC Robotics) and KR AGILUS ultra (KUKA Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.

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Optimized for Last-Mile Delivery buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.

ExplorerAA

KR AGILUS ultraAA

Layer 1: Identity & Trust

Manufacturer Country

ExplorerUnited Kingdom
KR AGILUS ultraGermany

Year First Available

Explorer2009
KR AGILUS ultra2026

Verified Deployments

Explorer0 Deployments
KR AGILUS ultra0 Deployments

Layer 2: Operational

Availability Status

ExplorerACTIVE
KR AGILUS ultraACTIVE

Arm Mechanics

Payload

Explorer20 kg
KR AGILUS ultra16 kg

IP Rating (Arm)

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultraIP67

Reach

Explorer2,500 mm
KR AGILUS ultra1,103 mm

Degrees of Freedom

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultra6

Robot Weight

Explorer18.6 kg
KR AGILUS ultra—

Performance

Duty Cycle

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultracontinuous 24 7

Vibration Damping

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultraactive model based

Controller & Programming

Controller Model

ExplorerControl and simulation unit
KR AGILUS ultraKR C5 micro

Teach Pendant Type

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultraKUKA smartPLUG handheld controller

End-Effector

Internal Cable Routing

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultrathrough arm and wrist

Commercial

Service Network

Explorer—
KR AGILUS ultraglobal

	Explorerindustrial-armOC Robotics AARobo Index	KR AGILUS ultraindustrial-armKUKA Robotics AARobo Index
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country (values differ)	United Kingdom	Germany
Year First Available (values differ)	2009	2026
Verified Deployments	0 Deployments	0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status	ACTIVE	ACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Arm Mechanics
Payload (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ)	20 kg	16 kg
IP Rating (Arm) (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ)	—	IP67
Reach (values differ)	2,500 mm	1,103 mm
Degrees of Freedom (values differ)	—	6
Robot Weight (values differ)	18.6 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	KR C5 micro
Teach Pendant Type (values differ)	—	KUKA smartPLUG handheld controller
End-Effector
Internal Cable Routing (values differ)	—	through arm and wrist
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, Repeatability, Path Accuracy, Max TCP Speed, 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, Offline Programming, Digital Twin Support, Communication Protocols, ROS-Industrial Support, IoT / Cloud Platform, Cybersecurity Certs, Predictive Maintenance, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer (ISO), Pneumatic Lines, Electrical Lines, Price (USD), Warranty, Spare Parts Lead Time, Expected Service Life

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.

Robots (fleet)

Hours / day

Labor $/hr (USD)

Days / year

Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000

Metric	Explorer	KR AGILUS ultra
Investment	No price	No price
Payback period	—	—
Net savings (5 yr)	—	—
ROI (5 yr)	—	—

Explorer, KR AGILUS ultra 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 AGILUS ultra?

Explorer is made by OC Robotics, based in GB. KR AGILUS ultra is made by KUKA Robotics, based in DE.

When were Explorer and KR AGILUS ultra launched?

Explorer launched in 2009. KR AGILUS ultra launched in 2026.

How do Explorer and KR AGILUS ultra compare on the Robo Index?

Explorer grades AA on the Robo Index. KR AGILUS ultra 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 Explorer compare to KR AGILUS ultra?

Explorer has a reach of 2500 mm. KR AGILUS ultra has a reach of 1103 mm.

Are Explorer and KR AGILUS ultra 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 AGILUS ultra?

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

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About this comparison

Explorer vs KR AGILUS ultra 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.