CARL vs Kilobot
Side-by-side comparison of CARL (Robotics Research Lab, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern) and Kilobot (Harvard) — 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
- CARL—
- KilobotSwitzerland
Year First Available
- CARL2017
- Kilobot2014
Verified Deployments
- CARL0 Deployments
- Kilobot0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- CARL3 hrs
- Kilobot4 hrs
Availability Status
- CARLACTIVE
- KilobotACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- CARL5 kg
- Kilobot—
Max Speed
- CARL—
- Kilobot0 m/s
Autonomy Level
- CARLsemi-autonomous
- Kilobotfully autonomous
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | — | Switzerland |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2017 | 2014 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 3 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 5 kg | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 0 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | semi-autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, 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 | CARL | Kilobot |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
CARL, 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 CARL and Kilobot?
CARL is made by Robotics Research Lab, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern. Kilobot is made by Harvard, based in CH.
When were CARL and Kilobot launched?
CARL launched in 2017. Kilobot launched in 2014.
How do CARL and Kilobot compare on the Robo Index?
CARL 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 CARL 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 CARL 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
CARL 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.