AIRo vs Katana
Side-by-side comparison of AIRo (Ritsumeikan University) and Katana (Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AIRoJapan
- Katana—
Year First Available
- AIRo2018
- Katana2014
Verified Deployments
- AIRo0 Deployments
- Katana0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- AIRo$190 USD
- KatanaContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- AIRo0 hrs
- Katana0.1 hrs
Availability Status
- AIRoACTIVE
- KatanaACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- AIRo16 kg
- Katana2,200 kg
Max Speed
- AIRo0.1 m/s
- Katana56 m/s
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2018 | 2014 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $190 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0 hrs | 0.1 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 16 kg | 2,200 kg |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.1 m/s | 56 m/s |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Reach, IP Rating, Autonomy Level
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes AIRo and Katana?
AIRo is made by Ritsumeikan University, based in JP. Katana is made by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
When were AIRo and Katana launched?
AIRo launched in 2018. Katana launched in 2014.
How do AIRo and Katana compare on the Robo Index?
AIRo scores 94/100. Katana scores 84/100. The Robo Index blends specs, pricing transparency, verified deployments, and independent media coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are AIRo and Katana in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Research on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Research robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Research TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: The real cost of a research platform.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between AIRo and Katana?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
The real cost of a research platform
7 min readResearch & Lab Robots
The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags
11 min readResearch & Lab Robots
A 90-day playbook to stand up a new platform in a lab
8 min readResearch & Lab Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
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About this comparison
AIRo vs Katana compares two robots in the research category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Index is calculated.