Darwin-OP vs Flame
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Flame (Delft University of Technology) — 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
- FlameNetherlands
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Flame2008
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Flame0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- FlameResearch platform
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Flame—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- FlameACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Flame15 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Flame1300 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Flame—
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Flame—
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Flame—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Flame—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Flameindoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Flame—
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Flame—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Flame—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Flame—
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Flame—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Flame—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Flame—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- FlameFlame Companion app
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Flame—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Flame—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- FlameFlame Companion app
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Flame—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Flame—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Flame—
IP Rating
- Darwin-OP—
- FlameIP66 / IP68
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- FlameResearch platform
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Flame<10K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Flame—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Flame—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Flameinspection, hazardous_env
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Netherlands |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2008 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| 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 | 15 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 1300 mm |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | — |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | — |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | — |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Flame Companion app |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Flame Companion app |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | — |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP66 / IP68 |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | <10K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | inspection, 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 | Flame |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Flame 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 Darwin-OP and Flame?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Flame is made by Delft University of Technology, based in NL.
When were Darwin-OP and Flame launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Flame launched in 2008.
How do Darwin-OP and Flame compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Flame grades B. 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 Flame 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 Flame?
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 Flame 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.