Cobots•Franka Emika•Discontinued
Franka Emika Panda (FER)
Historical seven-axis robot arm for research setups, superseded by the manufacturer’s Research 3 and Production 3.
Panda, subsequently called Franka Emika Robot (FER), is a seven-axis arm with joint torque sensors. The October 2021 manual lists an 855 mm reach and a maximum load of 3 kg including the tool attached to the arm. The arm weighs approximately 17.8 kg, excluding its separate controller. Research setups require suitable software and tools. Franka withdrew FER from its portfolio and identifies Research 3 and Production 3 as successors. Support for the specified Franka OS versions ended on 31 December 2023. This historical profile does not confirm current supply or support.
- Robotics research
- Robot control research
Status 2026
DiscontinuedAccording to the available sources this model is no longer in production or no longer available. The profile stays as a reference; ask the manufacturer about a successor.Designed for
- Robotics research
- Robot control research
- Type
- Cobots
- Origin
- Germany
- Deployment
- Not confirmed
- Region
- Not publicly confirmed
- Applications
- 2 applications
What is Franka Emika Panda (FER)?
Franka Emika Panda (FER) is a collaborative robot arm from Franka Robotics from Germany, listed for robotics research and robot control research. Key figures: degrees of freedom 7, reach 855 mm, payload 3 kg (including tool), weight approx. 17.8 kg (arm only). Some figures apply under specific conditions; see the robot profile. Market status: discontinued. Availability and deployment options should be confirmed with a supplier. Robotleasen does not sell robots; it helps businesses compare suppliers and recorded information.
Video
Panda (FER) in action
Technical overview
Panda (FER) in figures
Figures from the October 2021 manual; load includes the tool and weight covers the arm only.
- 7
- Degrees of freedom
- 855 mm
- Reach
- 3 kg (including tool)
- Payload
- approx. 17.8 kg (arm only)
- Weight
Put into perspective
- 3 kgAbout 3 one-litre cartons of milk.
- 0.86 mAbout 1.3 times an adult's arm length (about 65 cm).
In practice
How does the Panda (FER) perform?
All figures come from this robot's profile, according to the manufacturer.
How does it compare with other robots?
We put each value next to the other robots in the same category in our guide where that value is known. Unconfirmed values are marked in the figures above.
- This robot
- Other robots in the category
- Payload3 kgPlace 22 of 252.3 kg30 kg
Higher than 1 of the 24 other robots, equal to 2
- Weight17.8 kgPlace 10 of 1111.2 kg75 kg
Higher than 1 of the 10 other robots
- Reach855 mmPlace 20 of 24500 mm2,030 mm
Higher than 3 of the 23 other robots, equal to 1
Facts
Did you know?
Notable facts about Panda (FER), its manufacturer and this type of robot
The first commercially sold cobot was a UR5 from Universal Robots, in December 2008.
Source: Universal Robots, company historyA cobot's payload includes the gripper. A 1 kg gripper on a 5 kg cobot leaves 4 kg for the product.
The safety rules for cobots are set out in ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066. The latter gives limit values for contact force per body part.
Source: ISO/TS 15066
Documented product information
- Historical seven-axis robot arm for research setups, superseded by the manufacturer’s Research 3 and Production 3.
Our perspective on Panda (FER)
Panda, subsequently called Franka Emika Robot (FER), is a seven-axis arm with joint torque sensors. The October 2021 manual lists an 855 mm reach and a maximum load of 3 kg including the tool attached to the arm. The arm weighs approximately 17.8 kg, excluding its separate controller. Research setups require suitable software and tools. Franka withdrew FER from its portfolio and identifies Research 3 and Production 3 as successors. Support for the specified Franka OS versions ended on 31 December 2023. This historical profile does not confirm current supply or support.
Business fit
When might Panda (FER) be a fit?
An initial view based on the recorded category and model information
May be suitable for
- Organisations assessing a robot for a defined task and work environment.
- Teams comparing the robot's recorded profile with other options.
- Businesses that want to validate the application and integration requirements.
Considerations
- Confirm capabilities and current availability with the manufacturer or supplier.
- Check the work environment, integration needs and local support before selecting a model.
Market and supply
Availability
A profile status is not a confirmed offer or delivery time
- Market status
- Discontinued
- Region
- Not publicly confirmed
- Lease / RaaS
- Not confirmed
- Rental
- Not confirmed
Manufacturer and supplier
About Franka Robotics
Organisation named in the documentation for Panda (FER). This profile links to product or developer information; current support and supply are unconfirmed.
View supplierCompare
Compare Panda (FER)
| Feature | Panda (FER)Franka Emika | Research 3Franka Robotics | SawyerRethink Robotics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market status | Discontinued | Commercially available | Discontinued |
| Application | Robotics research, Robot control research | Robotics research, AI development | Historical machine tending and inspection applications, Grasping and machine vision research |
| Deployment | Not confirmed | Check with supplier | Not confirmed |
| Region | Not publicly confirmed | Europe | Not publicly confirmed |
Explore alternatives
Alternatives to Panda (FER)
Profiles from the same category, selected by similar applications
Rethink Robotics · Cobots
Baxter
DiscontinuedDifferent application: historical pick-and-place applicationsView robot
Universal Robots · Cobots
UR10e
Commercially availableDifferent market status: commercially availableView robot
Doosan Robotics · Cobots
A-serie
Commercially availableDifferent market status: commercially availableView robotFrequently asked questions
Questions about Panda (FER)
What is the Franka Emika Panda (FER)?
Franka Emika Panda (FER) is a collaborative robot arm from Franka Robotics from Germany, listed for robotics research and robot control research. Key figures: degrees of freedom 7, reach 855 mm, payload 3 kg (including tool), weight approx. 17.8 kg (arm only). Some figures apply under specific conditions; see the robot profile. Market status: discontinued. Availability and deployment options should be confirmed with a supplier. Robotleasen does not sell robots; it helps businesses compare suppliers and recorded information.
What are the specifications of the Franka Emika Panda (FER)?
Key figures: degrees of freedom 7, reach 855 mm, payload 3 kg (including tool), weight approx. 17.8 kg (arm only). Some figures apply under specific conditions; see the robot profile. Figures from the October 2021 manual; load includes the tool and weight covers the arm only.
Which supplier is listed for the Franka Emika Panda (FER)?
Franka Emika Panda (FER) is listed under Franka Robotics, based in Germany. Check local sales and support terms directly with the supplier.
Is the Franka Emika Panda (FER) available to buy or lease in the Netherlands?
Discontinued. Deployment: not confirmed. Whether this model is available to buy, rent or lease in the Netherlands depends on the supplier. Ask a supplier to confirm current availability.
How much does the Franka Emika Panda (FER) cost?
No reliable public price is listed for this model. Costs depend on configuration and supplier.
What is the Franka Emika Panda (FER) used for?
The applications listed for the Franka Emika Panda (FER) include robotics research and robot control research.
What are alternatives to the Franka Emika Panda (FER)?
Profiles include Rethink Robotics Baxter, Universal Robots UR10e and Doosan Robotics A-serie. Compare their applications, specifications and market status.
News and insights
Articles are currently available in Dutch
Next step
Ask about Panda (FER)
Review the recorded market status, applications and alternatives for this robot.
Profile last checked on 1 October 2026