RoMan vs Darwin-OP
Side-by-side comparison of RoMan (Apptronik, Inc.) and Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RoManUnited States
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
Year First Available
- RoMan2016
- Darwin-OP2010
Verified Deployments
- RoMan0 Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- RoMan$50,000 USD
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- RoMan4 hrs
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
Availability Status
- RoManACTIVE
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- RoMan72.6 kg
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
Height
- RoMan172.72 mm
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
Mobility Type
- RoManbipedal
- Darwin-OPbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- RoManfull bipedal
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
Stair Climbing
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPNo
Terrain
- RoManwarehouse, factory
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- RoMan25 kg
- Darwin-OP—
Total DOF
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OP20
Arm DOF
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OP3
Bimanual Coordination
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
VLM Capable
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPNo
Foundation Models
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPfalse
Imitation Learning
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPNo
Programming
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
Battery & Power
Runtime
- RoMan4 hrs
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
Battery Swap
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPNo
Software
SDK Languages
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPC++
ROS Support
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPYes
Open API
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OPYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- RoMancommercial
- Darwin-OPcommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- RoMan$50,000 USD
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
Price Tier
- RoMan40-80K
- Darwin-OP10-20K
Pricing Model
- RoManraas
- Darwin-OPpurchase
Warranty
- RoMan—
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
Applications
- RoManwarehouse_transport, assembly, inspection, cleaning
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | South Korea |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | 2010 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $50,000 USD | $12,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 4 hrs | 0.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 72.6 kg | 9.1 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 172.72 mm | 45.72 cm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | — | 0.2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | — | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | warehouse, factory | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 25 kg | — |
| Total DOF (values differ) | — | 20 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | — | 3 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | — | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | — | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | — | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | — | false |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | — | No |
| Programming (values differ) | — | code_python, code_ros |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 4 hrs | 0.5 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | — | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | — | C++ |
| ROS Support (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Open API (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $50,000 USD | $12,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 40-80K | 10-20K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | raas | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 1 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | warehouse_transport, assembly, inspection, cleaning | education, research |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Hand DOF, Arm Reach, Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Tool Use, Compute Platform, Teleoperation, Battery Capacity, Charging Time, Charging Method, Avg Power Consumption, Force-Limited Arms, Fall Recovery, Fall Detection Response, Emergency Stops, Human Detection Method, Safe Speed Near Humans, Simulation Platforms, Air-Gap Capable, MTBF, Task Success Rate, IP Rating, Noise Level, RaaS / Month, Developer Unit Price, Delivery Lead Time, Production Pilots
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | RoMan | Darwin-OP |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $50,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback period | 12.0 mo | 2.9 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $200,000 | $238,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +400% | +1983% |
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes RoMan and Darwin-OP?
RoMan is made by Apptronik, Inc., based in US. Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR.
When were RoMan and Darwin-OP launched?
RoMan launched in 2016. Darwin-OP launched in 2010.
How much does RoMan cost compared to Darwin-OP?
RoMan is listed at $50,000. Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000.
How do RoMan and Darwin-OP compare on the Robo Index?
RoMan grades A on the Robo Index. Darwin-OP grades AA. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are RoMan and Darwin-OP in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Humanoid on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Humanoid robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Humanoid TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Humanoid TCO: Hardware, Cloud Subscriptions, and the Cost of Teleop Time.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between RoMan and Darwin-OP?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Vendor Selection for Humanoids: The 10 Questions You Must Ask.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Humanoid TCO: Hardware, Cloud Subscriptions, and the Cost of Teleop Time
8 min readHumanoid Robots
Vendor Selection for Humanoids: The 10 Questions You Must Ask
10 min readHumanoid Robots
Running a Humanoid Pilot: Scope, Success Criteria, and Exit Options
9 min readHumanoid 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
RoMan vs Darwin-OP compares two robots in the humanoid 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.