Astrobee Bumble vs Kilobot
Side-by-side comparison of Astrobee Bumble (NASA) and Kilobot (Harvard) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Astrobee BumbleUnited States
- KilobotSwitzerland
Year First Available
- Astrobee Bumble2019
- Kilobot2014
Verified Deployments
- Astrobee Bumble0 Deployments
- Kilobot0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Astrobee Bumble—
- Kilobot4 hrs
Availability Status
- Astrobee BumbleACTIVE
- KilobotACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Max Speed
- Astrobee Bumble—
- Kilobot0 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Astrobee Bumblefully autonomous
- Kilobotfully autonomous
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | Switzerland |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2019 | 2014 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | — | 4 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 0 m/s |
| Autonomy Level | fully autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, Payload Capacity, Reach, 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 | Astrobee Bumble | Kilobot |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Astrobee Bumble, Kilobot have 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 Astrobee Bumble and Kilobot?
Astrobee Bumble is made by NASA, based in US. Kilobot is made by Harvard, based in CH.
When were Astrobee Bumble and Kilobot launched?
Astrobee Bumble launched in 2019. Kilobot launched in 2014.
How do Astrobee Bumble and Kilobot compare on the Robo Index?
Astrobee Bumble grades BB on the Robo Index. Kilobot 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 Astrobee Bumble and Kilobot 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 Astrobee Bumble and Kilobot?
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
Astrobee Bumble vs Kilobot 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.