🇩🇪 Franka Robotics

About Franka Robotics

Franka Robotics was founded in 2016 in Munich as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich and the Robotics and Embedded Systems group led by Professor Sami Haddadin. The company introduced the Franka Panda arm, which became one of the most widely adopted research cobots globally due to its combination of 7-DoF torque-controlled joints, open interfaces, and a price point significantly below competing research arms. Franka was partly acquired by Agile Robots in a transaction that provided capital for further development.

The current flagship is Franka Research 3 (FR3), an updated platform with improved dynamics, increased payload capacity, and enhanced safety features. The Franka ecosystem includes the DESK GUI for basic task programming and the Franka Control Interface (FCI) for low-level C++ and Python control, making it suitable for both researchers who want accessible programming and engineers who require direct torque control access. Thousands of FR3 and Panda units are deployed in robotics labs worldwide.

Franka occupies the research cobot niche with particular strength: the combination of accessible hardware, open software, and strong European university relationships has created a self-reinforcing ecosystem.

Key Products

• Franka Research 3 (FR3): 7-DoF research cobot; 3 kg payload, full torque sensing, FCI open control interface
• Franka Production 3 (FP3): Industrial variant with hardened software for production environments
• Franka Panda: Previous generation; widely deployed in research, still supported

UK Market Presence

Franka Robotics has strong UK presence through direct sales and authorised distributors. Most UK university robotics departments with manipulation research programmes use Franka arms. Pricing for FR3 starts at approximately £20,000 to £28,000. UK integrators offer Franka-based cell solutions for light production applications. Franka's European base makes UK sales, support, and spare parts logistics practical.

Buying Used Franka Robotics Equipment

Used Panda and FR3 arms appear regularly through UK and European university equipment disposals, typically priced at £8,000 to £18,000. Franka's software is freely available and actively maintained. Buyers should check joint stiffness calibration, verify that the safety system is intact, and confirm the controller version compatibility with the arm hardware. The FCI interface requires a valid Franka software licence but basic desk operation does not. The large installed base means UK service expertise for Franka arms is reasonably available.