Aqua2 vs Sandflea
Side-by-side comparison of Aqua2 (Independent Robotics) and Sandflea (Boston Dynamics, Inc. (Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary)) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Hospitality & F&B buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Aqua2Canada
- SandfleaUnited States
Year First Available
- Aqua22010
- Sandflea2012
Verified Deployments
- Aqua20 Deployments
- Sandflea0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Aqua2$60,000–$110,000 USD
- SandfleaResearch platform
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Aqua25 hrs
- Sandflea4 hrs
Availability Status
- Aqua2ACTIVE
- SandfleaACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Aqua225 kg
- Sandflea50 kg
Reach
- Aqua2—
- Sandflea2,300 mm
Max Speed
- Aqua25 m/s
- Sandflea1.5 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Aqua2semi-autonomous
- Sandflea—
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Canada | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2012 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $60,000–$110,000 USD | Research platform |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 5 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 25 kg | 50 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 2,300 mm |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 5 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | semi-autonomous | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: IP Rating
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 | Aqua2 | Sandflea |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $85,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 20.4 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $165,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +194% | — |
Sandflea has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
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 Aqua2 and Sandflea?
Aqua2 is made by Independent Robotics, based in CA. Sandflea is made by Boston Dynamics, Inc. (Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary), based in US.
When were Aqua2 and Sandflea launched?
Aqua2 launched in 2010. Sandflea launched in 2012.
How do Aqua2 and Sandflea compare on the Robo Score?
Aqua2 scores 65.0 on the Robo Score. Sandflea scores 43.4. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Aqua2 and Sandflea 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 Aqua2 and Sandflea?
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
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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
Aqua2 vs Sandflea 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 Score is calculated.