Franka Emika Panda vs MOTOMAN HC30PL
Side-by-side comparison of Franka Emika Panda (Franka Robotics GmbH) and MOTOMAN HC30PL (Motoman) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Franka Emika PandaGermany
- MOTOMAN HC30PLJapan
Year First Available
- Franka Emika Panda2017
- MOTOMAN HC30PL2019
Verified Deployments
- Franka Emika Panda0 Deployments
- MOTOMAN HC30PL0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- MOTOMAN HC30PL$50,000–$70,000 USD
Availability Status
- Franka Emika PandaACTIVE
- MOTOMAN HC30PLACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Robot Weight
- Franka Emika Panda11 kg
- MOTOMAN HC30PL140 kg
Max TCP Speed
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MOTOMAN HC30PL3.1 m/s
Payload
- Franka Emika Panda3 kg
- MOTOMAN HC30PL5 kg
Reach
- Franka Emika Panda1,260 mm
- MOTOMAN HC30PL1,300 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MOTOMAN HC30PL6
Repeatability
- Franka Emika Panda±0.1 mm
- MOTOMAN HC30PL±0.03 mm
Mounting Options
- Franka Emika Pandafloor, ceiling, wall
- MOTOMAN HC30PLfloor, ceiling, wall
IP Rating
- Franka Emika PandaIP54
- MOTOMAN HC30PLIP54
Safety
Safety Rating
- Franka Emika PandaISO/TS 15066
- MOTOMAN HC30PLISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing
- Franka Emika Pandaintegrated wrist ft
- MOTOMAN HC30PLnone
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MOTOMAN HC30PL1 hrs
No-Code Capable
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- MOTOMAN HC30PLYes
Offline Programming
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- MOTOMAN HC30PLYes
Programming Interface
- Franka Emika PandaFranka Emika API
- MOTOMAN HC30PLAUBO SDK
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Franka Emika PandaISO 9409-1-A50
- MOTOMAN HC30PLISO 9409-1-A50
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- MOTOMAN HC30PLNo
Fieldbus Protocols
- Franka Emika PandaEtherCAT
- MOTOMAN HC30PLEtherCAT
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- MOTOMAN HC30PL$50,000–$70,000 USD
Warranty
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MOTOMAN HC30PL2 yrs
Lead Time
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MOTOMAN HC30PL4 wks
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2017 | 2019 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $50,000–$70,000 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Robot Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 11 kg | 140 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | — | 3.1 m/s |
| Payload (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 3 kg | 5 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 1,260 mm | 1,300 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | ±0.1 mm | ±0.03 mm |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | floor, ceiling, wall | floor, ceiling, wall |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP54 |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating | ISO/TS 15066 | ISO/TS 15066 |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | integrated wrist ft | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | — | 1 hrs |
| No-Code Capable | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Programming | Yes | Yes |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | Franka Emika API | AUBO SDK |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard | ISO 9409-1-A50 | ISO 9409-1-A50 |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | EtherCAT | EtherCAT |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $50,000–$70,000 USD |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 2 yrs |
| Lead Time (values differ) | — | 4 wks |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Time to Redeploy, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month
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 | Franka Emika Panda | MOTOMAN HC30PL |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Payback period | 7.2 mo | 14.4 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $220,000 | $190,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +733% | +317% |
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 Franka Emika Panda and MOTOMAN HC30PL?
Franka Emika Panda is made by Franka Robotics GmbH, based in DE. MOTOMAN HC30PL is made by Motoman, based in JP.
When were Franka Emika Panda and MOTOMAN HC30PL launched?
Franka Emika Panda launched in 2017. MOTOMAN HC30PL launched in 2019.
How do Franka Emika Panda and MOTOMAN HC30PL compare on the Robo Score?
Franka Emika Panda scores 69.8 on the Robo Score. MOTOMAN HC30PL scores 74.7. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Franka Emika Panda and MOTOMAN HC30PL 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 Franka Emika Panda and MOTOMAN HC30PL?
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
Franka Emika Panda vs MOTOMAN HC30PL 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 Score is calculated.