Colias vs iRobot Create
Side-by-side comparison of Colias (Computer Intelligence Lab at the University of Lincoln) and iRobot Create (iRobot Corporation (Amazon subsidiary)) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, 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
- Colias—
- iRobot CreateUnited States
Year First Available
- Colias2018
- iRobot Create—
Verified Deployments
- Colias0 Deployments
- iRobot Create0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- ColiasResearch platform
- iRobot Create$129 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Colias1.5 hrs
- iRobot Create—
Availability Status
- ColiasACTIVE
- iRobot CreateACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Colias5 kg
- iRobot Create—
Reach
- Colias850 mm
- iRobot Create—
Max Speed
- Colias0.4 m/s
- iRobot Create0.5 m/s
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | — | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2018 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Research platform | $129 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 1.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 5 kg | — |
| Reach (values differ) | 850 mm | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.4 m/s | 0.5 m/s |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: IP Rating, Autonomy Level
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 | Colias | iRobot Create |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $129 |
| Payback period | — | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | $249,871 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | +193698% |
Colias 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 Colias and iRobot Create?
Colias is made by Computer Intelligence Lab at the University of Lincoln. iRobot Create is made by iRobot Corporation (Amazon subsidiary), based in US.
How do Colias and iRobot Create compare on the Robo Score?
Colias scores 40.9 on the Robo Score. iRobot Create scores 62.4. 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 Colias and iRobot Create 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 Colias and iRobot Create?
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
Colias vs iRobot Create 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.