Darwin-OP vs DR01
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and DR01 (Hangzhou DEEP Robotics Co., Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- DR01China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- DR012024
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- DR010 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- DR01$90,000–$200,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- DR01—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- DR01ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- DR0180 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- DR01170 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- DR01bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- DR01full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- DR011.6 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- DR01Yes
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- DR01uneven ground, stairs, slopes up to 25°
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- DR0112
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- DR01—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- DR01No
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- DR01AI processing for real-time adaptive control
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- DR01No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- DR01—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- DR01No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- DR01Embodied AI algorithms for autonomous learning and adaptation
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- DR01—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- DR01No
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- DR01Embodied AI algorithms for autonomous learning and adaptation
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- DR01No
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- DR01No
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- DR01prototype
IP Rating
- Darwin-OP—
- DR01IP66
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- DR01$90,000–$200,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- DR0120-40K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- DR01purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- DR01—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- DR01research, hazardous_env
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $90,000–$200,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 80 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 170 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.6 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | uneven ground, stairs, slopes up to 25° |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 12 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | AI processing for real-time adaptive control |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Embodied AI algorithms for autonomous learning and adaptation |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Embodied AI algorithms for autonomous learning and adaptation |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP66 |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $90,000–$200,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 20-40K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, hazardous_env |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload, 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, 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 | Darwin-OP | DR01 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $145,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 34.8 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $105,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +72% |
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 Darwin-OP and DR01?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. DR01 is made by Hangzhou DEEP Robotics Co., Ltd., based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and DR01 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. DR01 launched in 2024.
How do Darwin-OP and DR01 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. DR01 grades A. 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 Darwin-OP and DR01 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 Darwin-OP and DR01?
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
Darwin-OP vs DR01 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.