Franka Emika Panda vs RB5-850E
Side-by-side comparison of Franka Emika Panda (Franka Robotics GmbH) and RB5-850E (Rainbow Robotics Co., Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Franka Emika PandaGermany
- RB5-850ESouth Korea
Year First Available
- Franka Emika Panda2017
- RB5-850E2011
Verified Deployments
- Franka Emika Panda0 Deployments
- RB5-850E0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- RB5-850E$22,000 USD
Availability Status
- Franka Emika PandaACTIVE
- RB5-850EACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Repeatability
- Franka Emika Panda±0.1 mm
- RB5-850E±0.05 mm
IP Rating
- Franka Emika PandaIP54
- RB5-850EIP66
Reach
- Franka Emika Panda1,260 mm
- RB5-850E927.7 mm
Payload
- Franka Emika Panda3 kg
- RB5-850E5 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- Franka Emika Panda—
- RB5-850E6
Robot Weight
- Franka Emika Panda11 kg
- RB5-850E22 kg
Mounting Options
- Franka Emika Pandafloor, ceiling, wall
- RB5-850E—
Safety
Safety Rating
- Franka Emika PandaISO/TS 15066
- RB5-850EISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing
- Franka Emika Pandaintegrated wrist ft
- RB5-850Enone
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- Franka Emika Panda—
- RB5-850E1 hrs
No-Code Capable
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- RB5-850E—
Offline Programming
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- RB5-850E—
Programming Interface
- Franka Emika PandaFranka Emika API
- RB5-850Eno_code_gui
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Franka Emika PandaISO 9409-1-A50
- RB5-850EM10 12-pin
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- RB5-850E—
Fieldbus Protocols
- Franka Emika PandaEtherCAT
- RB5-850E—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- RB5-850E$22,000 USD
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | South Korea |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2017 | 2011 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $22,000 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Repeatability (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | ±0.1 mm | ±0.05 mm |
| IP Rating (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | IP54 | IP66 |
| Reach (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | 1,260 mm | 927.7 mm |
| Payload (values differ) | 3 kg | 5 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 11 kg | 22 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | floor, ceiling, wall | — |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO/TS 15066 | ISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066 |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | integrated wrist ft | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | — | 1 hrs |
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | Franka Emika API | no_code_gui |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | ISO 9409-1-A50 | M10 12-pin |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | EtherCAT | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $22,000 USD |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, Max TCP Speed, 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, Warranty, 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 | Franka Emika Panda | RB5-850E |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $30,000 | $22,000 |
| Payback period | 7.2 mo | 5.3 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $220,000 | $228,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +733% | +1036% |
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 RB5-850E?
Franka Emika Panda is made by Franka Robotics GmbH, based in DE. RB5-850E is made by Rainbow Robotics Co., Ltd., based in KR.
When were Franka Emika Panda and RB5-850E launched?
Franka Emika Panda launched in 2017. RB5-850E launched in 2011.
How much does Franka Emika Panda cost compared to RB5-850E?
Franka Emika Panda is listed at $30,000. RB5-850E is listed at $22,000.
How do Franka Emika Panda and RB5-850E compare on the Robo Score?
Franka Emika Panda scores 69.8 on the Robo Score. RB5-850E scores 67.0. 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 RB5-850E 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 RB5-850E?
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 RB5-850E 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.