Explorer vs SR-9iA/R
Side-by-side comparison of Explorer (OC Robotics) and SR-9iA/R (FANUC) — 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
- ExplorerUnited Kingdom
- SR-9iA/RJapan
Year First Available
- Explorer2009
- SR-9iA/R2025
Verified Deployments
- Explorer0 Deployments
- SR-9iA/R0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status
- ExplorerACTIVE
- SR-9iA/RACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- Explorer20 kg
- SR-9iA/R9 kg
Reach
- Explorer2,500 mm
- SR-9iA/R620 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/R4
Repeatability
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/R±0.01 mm
Robot Weight
- Explorer18.6 kg
- SR-9iA/R76 kg
Performance
Duty Cycle
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rcontinuous 24 7
Vibration Damping
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Ractive model based
Safety
Safety Category
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/RCat.3 PLd
Dual Check Safety
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/RYes
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- ExplorerControl and simulation unit
- SR-9iA/RR-30 i B Compact Plus
Programming Languages
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/RTP/KAREL
Teach Pendant Type
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rsmart pad
Offline Programming
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/RROBOGUIDE
Connectivity
ROS-Industrial Support
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rvendor supported
IoT / Cloud Platform
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/RFANUC ZDT
Predictive Maintenance
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rthreshold based
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/RISO 9409-1
Tool Changer (ISO)
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rproprietary
Internal Cable Routing
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rthrough arm
Commercial
Service Network
- Explorer—
- SR-9iA/Rglobal
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United Kingdom | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2009 | 2025 |
| 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 | 9 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 2,500 mm | 620 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 4 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | — | ±0.01 mm |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 18.6 kg | 76 kg |
| Performance | ||
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | — | continuous 24 7 |
| Vibration Damping (values differ) | — | active model based |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Category (values differ) | — | Cat.3 PLd |
| Dual Check Safety (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Controller & Programming | ||
| Controller Model (values differ) | Control and simulation unit | R-30 i B Compact Plus |
| Programming Languages (values differ) | — | TP/KAREL |
| Teach Pendant Type (values differ) | — | smart pad |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | ROBOGUIDE |
| Connectivity | ||
| ROS-Industrial Support (values differ) | — | vendor supported |
| IoT / Cloud Platform (values differ) | — | FANUC ZDT |
| Predictive Maintenance (values differ) | — | threshold based |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | — | ISO 9409-1 |
| Tool Changer (ISO) (values differ) | — | proprietary |
| Internal Cable Routing (values differ) | — | through arm |
| 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, Max TCP Speed, IP Rating (Arm), IP Rating (Wrist), Cycle Time (25/305/25), MTBF, Safety I/O Pairs, E-Stop Response, Safe Zone Count, Digital Twin Support, Communication Protocols, Cybersecurity Certs, Pneumatic Lines, 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 | SR-9iA/R |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Explorer, SR-9iA/R 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 SR-9iA/R?
Explorer is made by OC Robotics, based in GB. SR-9iA/R is made by FANUC, based in JP.
When were Explorer and SR-9iA/R launched?
Explorer launched in 2009. SR-9iA/R launched in 2025.
How do Explorer and SR-9iA/R compare on the Robo Index?
Explorer grades AA on the Robo Index. SR-9iA/R 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 SR-9iA/R?
Explorer has a reach of 2500 mm. SR-9iA/R has a reach of 620 mm.
Are Explorer and SR-9iA/R 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 SR-9iA/R?
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 SR-9iA/R 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.