SENSODRIVE
About
About SENSODRIVE
SENSODRIVE makes torque sensors for robot joints and other systems that need to measure and regulate physical contact. The company traces this work to torque-control technology developed at the German Aerospace Center and manufactures its sensors in Weßling, Germany. Its compact sensors can be integrated into a joint or drive, with analogue, SPI and BiSS C interface options. The company describes industrial and medical robots, exoskeletons and force-feedback systems among its applications.
The SensoJoint family packages a motor, gearing, torque sensing, controller, brake, output encoder and bearing into ready-to-install joint modules. That distinguishes it from a standalone sensor: robot builders can use an integrated torque-controlled axis instead of designing each drive layer separately. SENSODRIVE also develops force-feedback systems, while offering customisation and integration support for manufacturers adapting its torque technology to a particular machine.
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- TQ-RoboDrive
Inbound - actuation and motion control - Sensodrive uses TQ-RoboDrive compact frameless servo motors in torque-controlled actuators for medical and industrial robotics
Source - Synapticon
Inbound - Compute & Control - Sensodrive worked with Synapticon on servo drives and motion control for next-generation cobot performance and precision
Source
Team
- Norbert Sporer - Co-founder and CEO - Sporer co-founded the company to transfer DLR space-robotics and torque-control research into industrial products.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-03-24 - Partnership - SENSODRIVE and TUM develop torque-controlled continuum robot
The experimental system uses a flexible backbone and tendon actuation whose output forces are measured and controlled through SensoJoint drives. Direct output-torque measurement lets the team account for gear friction and validate model and observer approaches against experimental data. CiA402 support and detailed documentation allowed hardware and software preparation before delivery and shortened setup time.
Source - 2025-12-01 - Demonstration - SENSODRIVE powers open TRX7 dual-arm research cobot
The LIRMM/CNRS-led project is funded by France's Equipex+ TIRREX programme and uses an open modular architecture for human-robot interaction research. Alted used 14 SensoJoints in four sizes to provide force measurement, torque and impedance control, friction compensation and EtherCAT communication. The platform combines actuator-level force data with planned soft capacitive shells for contact anticipation, trajectory replanning and external-force estimation.
Source - 2025-04-22 - Partnership - SENSODRIVE supplies eight SensoJoints for SeaClear2.0 gripper
The gripper was designed for autonomous litter collection at depths of up to 100 metres. Real-time torque feedback adjusts grip to the shape, texture and consistency of the object being collected. The articulated drive configuration can grip and transport objects weighing up to 250 kilograms.
Source - 2025-03-31 - Regulatory - SENSODRIVE secures SIL3/PLe safety certification for SensoJoint
The certification was received on 31 March 2025 after development testing and technical documentation review. The certified functions cover IEC 61508, IEC 62061, ISO 13849 and IEC 61800-5-2. The modules are designed to help cobot and medical-robot manufacturers implement ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066 safety requirements.
Source - 2024-12-05 - Capability - Sensodrive adds ROS 2 support for SensoJoint drives
RViz supports modelling and visualisation, Gazebo provides simulation, and MoveIt plans and controls cobot motion. The ROS 2–EtherCAT driver can transfer motion sequences tested in simulation to the cobot in real time. The package was developed with Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava using several SensoJoints and a SensoRob cobot.
Source - 2024-10-14 - Award - SENSODRIVE wins a Bavaria Innovation Award for SensoJoint
Bavarian economics minister Hubert Aiwanger presented the award on 14 October 2024. SensoJoint packages the motor, gearing, torque sensing, controller, brake, encoder and bearing into one ready-to-install axis. The recognised system is intended for collaborative and medical robot development.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Robotics Research Collaborator - SENSODRIVE and TUM collaborate on SensoJoint robotics research, including SeaClear2.0 and a continuum robot.
Context
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Context tags
- Integrated robot-joint actuator supplier - Peer Group - Official Sensodrive material documents complete torque-controlled joint actuators with motor, gearing, sensing, brake and controller.