Franka Robotics Research 3

The Franka Robotics Research 3 is an advanced 7-axis robotic arm specially developed for robotics research, AI applications, motion control, human-robot interaction, and experimental automation. Thanks to the combination of a compact design, high sensitivity, and direct access to low-level control, the Research 3 is particularly suitable for universities, research institutions, laboratories, and companies wishing to develop or test new robotic applications.

With a payload of 3 kg, a maximum reach of 855 mm, and a position repeatability of <±0.1 mm, the Franka Research 3 offers an accurate and flexible basis for various research projects. The robotic arm features 7 degrees of freedom, enabling it to perform human-like and agile movements, even in compact or complex work environments. Please note that the robotic arm does not rotate unlimitedly 360 degrees; each joint has its own specified movement limits.

Force-sensitive robotic arm for advanced research

A key advantage of the Franka Research 3 is the integrated link-side torque sensing in all 7 axes. This allows the robotic arm to accurately register external forces and moments of contact. This makes the Research 3 suitable for applications where force control, contact detection, hand-guiding, manipulation research, or safe interaction with the environment is important.

The robotic arm supports a rapid 1 kHz control loop via the Franka Control Interface. This gives researchers access to real-time robot data and direct control options, including joint torque, joint position, joint velocity, Cartesian pose, and Cartesian velocity. For software development, the robot can be used in combination with, among others, libfranka, ROS 2, MATLAB, and Simulink.

Operation and integration

For practical operation and configuration, the Franka Research 3 uses Franka Desk, the web-based interface for programming, administration, and simple task configuration. For in-depth research and advanced robot control, the Franka Control Interface can be used. The connection is made via Ethernet/TCP/IP, making the robotic arm suitable for integration with external workstations, research software, and proprietary development environments.

The Research 3 can be expanded with suitable end-effectors, such as a 2-finger gripper or vacuum gripper. These end-effectors are chosen separately depending on the desired application. The weight of the end-effector, cabling, and the object itself counts towards the total payload of 3 kg.

Safety and professional use

The Franka Research 3 is designed for controlled research and testing environments. The robotic arm features safety-oriented connections, including an input for emergency stop, an input for an external enabling device, and configurable safety inputs for emergency stop equipment or other protective provisions, for example. In addition, the system supports functions such as monitored stop, hand-guiding, and safely limited movements.

For each application, it must be assessed in advance whether the robot setup, mounting, workspace, end-effector, software, and safety provisions are suitable for the intended use. This is especially important in research involving human interaction, moving objects, external sensors, or self-developed control software.

Advice for business applications

Are you looking to use the Franka Research 3 for education, research, AI training, robotics development, or a specific test setup? Then it is important to determine in advance what end-effector, mounting, safety provisions, and software integration are needed. Unbound XR is more than happy to assist in determining the right configuration and practical applicability of the robotic arm within your project.