Elephant Robotics Technology Panda 5KG (4010200007)

A robot arm that can carry a useful load to the far side of a workbench earns its place beside people only if it also knows when to stop. The Elephant Robotics Technology Panda 5KG (4010200007) is built around that balance. It is the larger of the two arms in the Elephant Robotics P Series, with a 5kg payload and 850mm of reach, yet it is designed to halt immediately when it senses even a slight collision. For a production engineer deciding whether a cobot can work next to an operator rather than behind a fence, that pairing of reach and restraint is the real question, and it is the question this article sets out to answer.

Robots Europa, based in Dublin, supplies the Panda 5KG to companies, laboratories and educational institutions across the European Union and the DACH region. We prepare a written quotation for each enquiry, arrange delivery to your site and remain your point of contact for technical support once the arm is installed. Our team can also help you think through end-effectors, protection units and integration before you commit.

Background

Elephant Robotics and the P Series

Elephant Robotics develops a broad family of robots, from collaborative arms to humanoid platforms and autonomous mobile bases, all of which can be found in our Elephant category. The P Series is the company's line of universal 6-axis collaborative robots, offered in two payload versions: a 3kg model and a 5kg model, referred to as P3 and P5. The Panda 5KG corresponds to the 5kg version, the arm intended for heavier tools, longer reaches and larger work envelopes.

The word universal matters here. Rather than being designed around a single task, the P Series is meant to take whatever end-effector the job requires, whether a gripper, a screwdriver or a test probe, and to be mounted wherever the cell allows. The arm can be installed at any angle, which opens up floor, wall and ceiling arrangements in cramped workspaces.

Collision detection and an open software stack

Two characteristics shape how the Panda 5KG behaves on a shop floor. The first is safety: an efficient and exact collision detection algorithm allows the arm to stop immediately when it perceives a slight collision, and its collaboration operation has been tested in accordance with EN ISO 13849-1 PL d and EN ISO 10218-1: 2011, Clause 5.4.3. Where a risk assessment calls for more, customised protection units such as lidar and light curtains are also accepted.

The second is openness. Day-to-day tasks can be set up through graphical programming, so operators without a software background can teach routines. For developers, the API can be integrated with any programming language, with SDKs provided for Python, C++ and Java, and the arm supports offline programming and extension on ROS. The same robot can therefore serve a line supervisor and a research engineer without changing hardware.

Technical Specifications

Specifications as published by the manufacturer; confirmed against the datasheet at quotation.

The manufacturer has not published the joint-by-joint working range limits, the package contents, the controller specifications, the power supply voltage, the I/O ports, the cable length or the shipping dimensions; we confirm these with you at quotation.

What makes the Panda 5KG different from the Panda 3Kg?

Both arms belong to the same P Series and share its design principles: six axes, collision detection, graphical programming, the open API and ROS support. The distinction lies in scale. The Elephant Robotics Technology Panda 3Kg (4010200006) is the 3kg version, a lighter arm with a shorter reach suited to compact cells. The Panda 5KG lifts 5kg and reaches 850mm, which leaves more headroom once the weight of a gripper or tool is subtracted from the payload.

That headroom is often what decides the choice. An end-effector can consume a significant share of a small cobot's rated payload, so an application that looks comfortable on paper may become marginal in practice. With the Panda 5KG, the work envelope is also larger, which can allow one arm to serve two fixtures or reach a conveyor and a tray without being repositioned. The trade-off is mass: at 24.5kg, the Panda 5KG needs a sturdier mounting surface than its smaller sibling, and its typical power consumption is 260W.

How does the Panda 5KG fit into an existing automation setup?

Integration usually begins with mounting. Because the arm can be installed at any angle on a base measuring 123mm×123mm, it can be fitted to a bench, a mobile pedestal, a wall bracket or an overhead frame. The IP54 classification and an operating temperature range of 0-50℃ describe the environment it is designed for, which covers most workshops, laboratories and light industrial halls.

On the control side, graphical programming covers routine tasks, while the API and the Python, C++ and Java SDKs allow the arm to be driven from an existing line controller, a test bench application or a vision system. Teams already working with ROS can plan and simulate offline before running a routine on the physical robot. Where the cell layout or risk assessment requires additional safeguarding, lidar or light curtains can be added as customised protection units, and our team is glad to discuss the layout of the complete cell with you.

Who is the Panda 5KG for?

Small and medium-sized manufacturers are a natural fit: businesses that want to automate a repetitive assembly, handling or inspection step without building a fenced robot cell, and that value a programming method their own staff can learn. The collision detection and the tested collaboration operation make it a reasonable candidate for workstations shared with operators, subject to the usual risk assessment under the Machinery Directive and CE marking obligations for the finished cell.

System integrators will appreciate the open API, the multi-language SDKs and the any-angle mounting, which together make the arm adaptable to customer projects with very different layouts. Universities, research institutes and technical colleges form a third group: ROS support and Python access make the Panda 5KG a practical platform for teaching manipulation, motion planning and human-robot collaboration on a full-sized industrial-style arm.

If your tasks involve light parts, small tools and a compact footprint, the Panda 3Kg may be the more economical choice. If you are exploring other Elephant Robotics platforms, the wider range is listed in our Shop.

What is the Panda 5KG used for?

1. Assembly: fitting, inserting and fastening components with a suitable end-effector at a shared workstation.
2. Material handling: moving parts between trays, fixtures and conveyors across a wide work envelope.
3. Testing and inspection: positioning test probes, cameras or parts repeatedly for quality checks.
4. Research and teaching: studying motion planning and human-robot collaboration through ROS and the Python SDK.
5. Software-driven automation: integrating the arm into custom applications through the API and the C++ or Java SDKs.
6. Space-constrained cells: mounting the arm on walls, ceilings or angled frames where floor space is limited.

Pricing and Availability

Robots Europa supplies the Panda 5KG on the basis of a written quotation, prepared for your configuration, your end-effectors and your delivery location within the EU or the DACH region. Delivery, customs and after-sales support are arranged together with the quotation, so you receive a clear picture before placing an order. When you contact us, a short description of your application, the parts to be handled and the planned mounting position helps us respond precisely. To begin, use the quotation request available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What payload and reach does the Panda 5KG offer?

The Panda 5KG has a payload of 5kg and a reach of 850mm. Remember that the weight of your gripper or tool counts towards the payload.

How precise is the arm?

The arm has a repeatability of ±0.05mm, which suits repeated assembly, handling and testing tasks.

Is the Panda 5KG safe to work beside people?

Its collision detection algorithm stops the arm immediately when a slight collision is perceived, and its collaboration operation was tested in accordance with EN ISO 13849-1 PL d and EN ISO 10218-1: 2011, Clause 5.4.3. Every installation still requires a risk assessment of the complete cell, and lidar or light curtains can be added where needed.

Which programming options are available?

Routine tasks can be created through graphical programming. Developers can use the API with any programming language, SDKs for Python, C++ and Java, and offline programming and extension on ROS.

Can the arm be mounted on a wall or ceiling?

Yes, the robot can be mounted at any angle. Its base measures 123mm×123mm and the arm weighs 24.5kg, so the mounting surface must be designed accordingly.

What working environment is the arm designed for?

The Panda 5KG carries an IP54 classification and operates within a temperature range of 0-50℃. Its noise level is below 70dB, which suits workshops and laboratories shared with staff.

Where can I buy the Elephant Robotics Technology Panda 5KG (4010200007) and what does it cost?

You can buy it from Robots Europa, which supplies customers throughout the EU and the DACH region. The cost depends on your configuration and delivery, and we provide it in a written quotation on request.

Summary

The Panda 5KG resolves the tension set out at the start: it offers the payload and reach to do meaningful work, 5kg across 850mm with ±0.05mm repeatability, while its collision detection and tested collaboration operation let it share space with people. Graphical programming keeps it accessible to operators, and the open API, multi-language SDKs and ROS support keep it flexible for engineers and researchers. Robots Europa quotes, delivers and supports it across the EU and the DACH region. For anyone planning a collaborative cell that needs more than a compact arm can give, this page is the starting point.