Sensodrive

Sensodrive GmbH originates from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where its founders aimed to adapt space robotics for terrestrial industrial use. The company was established in 2003 by Norbert Sporer and Matthias Hähnle. Norbert Sporer, currently the CEO, has a background in electrical and automation engineering and previously led lightweight robot development at the DLR, building on technology used in the 1993 Spacelab mission. This foundation in aerospace research is central to the company's focus on high-precision drive technologies. Sensodrive was self-financed from its inception, without external investors, a strategy that has allowed it to maintain its independence.

The firm specializes in developing and producing sensitive drive technologies, serving clients in the medical technology, industrial robotics, and automotive sectors. Its business model centers on providing both standardized products and custom-developed drive solutions. Revenue is generated through the sale of its hardware components and associated engineering and consultancy services for advanced robotics and automation.

Sensodrive's product portfolio includes torque sensors, torque-controlled complete drives (SensoJoints), and force-feedback systems. Their patented torque sensors, first introduced for industrial robots in 2003, form the basis for human-robot collaboration (HRC) by enabling features like vibration damping and collision detection. These sensors are designed to be compact, lightweight, and robust against interferences. Building on this, the SensoJoints are ready-to-install, torque-controlled actuators that integrate the company's sensor technology, aiming to reduce development time and costs for manufacturers of collaborative robots (cobots) and medical robots. In March 2025, the SensoJoints received safety certification from TÜV Süddeutschland, a significant milestone for the company. Additionally, Sensodrive offers a range of force-feedback products for high-end simulators, including steering wheels, pedals, and joysticks.

Keywords: torque sensors, robotics, drive technology, mechatronics, force feedback, German Aerospace Center, DLR spin-off, collaborative robots, cobots, medical robotics, automation, Norbert Sporer, SensoJoints, motion control, servo drives, actuator technology, human-robot collaboration, steer-by-wire, simulator technology, industrial automation, lightweight robots, haptic feedback, robotic joints