Darwin-OP vs Geminoid DK
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Geminoid DK (Kokoro, Ishiguro Lab, ATR, Aalborg University) — 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
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Geminoid DK—
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Geminoid DK2011
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Geminoid DK0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Geminoid DK$165,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Geminoid DK—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Geminoid DKACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Geminoid DK130 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Geminoid DK40 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Geminoid DKstatic
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Geminoid DKanthropomorphic torso
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Geminoid DK—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Geminoid DKNo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Geminoid DKflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Geminoid DK12
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Geminoid DK—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Geminoid DKNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Geminoid DKCustom server and control infrastructure
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Geminoid DKNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Geminoid DKfalse
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Geminoid DKNo
Teleoperation
- Darwin-OP—
- Geminoid DKnone
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Geminoid DKteleoperation
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Geminoid DK—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Geminoid DKNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Geminoid DKJava
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Geminoid DKNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Geminoid DKNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Geminoid DKprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Geminoid DK$165,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Geminoid DK150K+
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Geminoid DKpurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Geminoid DK—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Geminoid DKresearch
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2011 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $165,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 130 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 40 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | static |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | anthropomorphic torso |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| 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 | Custom server and control infrastructure |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Teleoperation (values differ) | — | none |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | teleoperation |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Java |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $165,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 150K+ |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research |
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, 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, IP Rating, 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 | Geminoid DK |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $165,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 39.6 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $85,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +52% |
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 Geminoid DK?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Geminoid DK is made by Kokoro, Ishiguro Lab, ATR, Aalborg University.
When were Darwin-OP and Geminoid DK launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Geminoid DK launched in 2011.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Geminoid DK?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Geminoid DK is listed at $165,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Geminoid DK compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Geminoid DK 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 Geminoid DK 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 Geminoid DK?
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 Geminoid DK 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.