Franka Robotics Company Profile: History, Ownership and Products
Updated: 7 days ago
Franka Robotics is a Munich company whose seven-axis, force-sensitive robot arm is one of the standard platforms in robotics and AI research. It was founded in 2016 and has been part of Agile Robots since 2023. This profile sets out what the company's own account confirms about its history, ownership and products.
Franka Robotics at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Franka Robotics |
Founded | 2016 |
Headquarters | Koppstrasse 12, Munich, Germany |
Owner | Agile Robots, since 2023 |
Main product | Franka Research 3 |
Sales | Through a global network of sales partners |
Stock listing | None |
History and Ownership
Franka was founded in Munich in 2016 and became known for a lightweight arm with torque sensors in every joint, which lets it feel contact and be guided by hand. That made it popular with universities and corporate labs working on manipulation and machine learning. In 2023 the company joined Agile Robots, another Munich robotics company, and it now also sells that company's Diana 7 arm alongside its own.
Products
Product | Description |
Franka Research 3 | Seven-axis, force-sensitive research robot arm |
Diana 7 | Seven-axis arm by Agile Robots, sold by Franka |
Accessories | Grippers and related equipment |
Prototypes shown by the company
Franka Research 3 Duo, a two-arm setup.
Mobile FR3 Duo, two arms on a mobile base.
Tactile Mobile Robot.
Franka GELLO and GELLO Duo, devices for teleoperating the arms to collect training data.
These prototypes follow the direction of current AI research, in which robots learn tasks from data gathered by human teleoperation. The company names research, service, art and industry as its application areas.
Franka product reviews on All Things Cobots
What Is Not Public
The company page does not give employee numbers, units sold, revenue or the names of its managers, so those are left out here.
Can You Invest in Franka Robotics?
No. It is part of the privately held Agile Robots.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
A reference platform in academic robotics, with a large body of published research using it.
Sensitive torque control in every joint.
The backing of a larger parent since 2023.
Challenges
A research market that is small compared with industrial automation.
Growing competition from low-cost arms and humanoids as research platforms.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 2 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Franka Robotics FAQ
Who owns Franka Robotics?
Agile Robots, since 2023.
Where is Franka Robotics based?
In Munich, Germany.
When was Franka founded?
In 2016.
What is the Franka Research 3?
A seven-axis, force-sensitive robot arm used mainly in robotics and AI research.
Is Franka Robotics publicly traded?
No.
Sources
Franka Robotics: company
