Franka Desk

The web interface built into Franka arms, used to unlock joints, activate FCI and build tasks from Apps.

Desk is the web interface served by the Franka arm's controller (Control): enter the robot's IP address in a browser and log in, with nothing to install. The FR3 manual calls the whole web interface Franka UI; Desk is the part for programming, configuring and operating the robot, alongside Settings for system configuration and Watchman for safety rules. Desk was built for programming without code: you chain Apps such as "Grasp", "Put down" or "Press button" into a Task, then teach their parameters by guiding the arm by hand. In robot-learning work it is mostly used for setup. After power-on, click "Unlock joints" to release the brakes on all seven joints. On FR3, switch to Execution mode and click "Activate FCI" in the system menu; only then can libfranka and tools built on it take over. After changing the gripper, enter the end effector's mass and related parameters in the settings, or gravity compensation will be off when you guide the arm by hand. Only one user holds control at a time (Single Point of Control, SPoC), and panda-py and franky can also unlock the joints and activate FCI from code.

ExampleAfter power-on, open https://172.16.0.2 in a browser on the computer wired to the controller and log in to Desk. Click "Unlock joints" and wait for seven clicks, switch to Execution mode, click "Activate FCI" in the system menu, then start your libfranka program.

Also called

Desk, Franka UI

Related

Franka Emika Panda / Franka Research 3 · libfranka / Franka Control Interface (FCI) · Holding Brake · Teach Pendant · Kinesthetic Teaching · panda-py

Sources

Setting Up the Robot System and Network for FCI (Franka Control Interface docs)
Operating Manual Franka Research 3 (System Image 5.9.0 / 5.9.1)
franky documentation: Accessing the Desk API

As of

2026-10