Darwin-OP vs Hubo 2
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Hubo 2 (KAIST) — 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
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Hubo 2South Korea
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Hubo 22009
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Hubo 20 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Hubo 2$400,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Hubo 21.5 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Hubo 2ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Hubo 245 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Hubo 2125 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Hubo 2bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Hubo 2full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Hubo 21.5 m/s
Running Capable
- Darwin-OP—
- Hubo 2dynamic walk
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hubo 2No
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Hubo 2flat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Hubo 22 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Hubo 240
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Hubo 27
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Hubo 25
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hubo 2Yes
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Hubo 2Two PC/104 embedded computers with solid-state drives
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hubo 2No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Hubo 2—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hubo 2No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Hubo 2code_ros, proprietary_app, teleoperation
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Hubo 21.5 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hubo 2No
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Hubo 2code_ros, proprietary_app, teleoperation
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Hubo 2Yes
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Hubo 2Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Hubo 2research
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Hubo 2$400,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Hubo 2150K+
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Hubo 2purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Hubo 2—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Hubo 2robotics education, research, service robotics, disaster response
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | South Korea | South Korea |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2009 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $400,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 1.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 45 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 125 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Running Capable (values differ) | — | dynamic walk |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 2 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 40 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 5 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Two PC/104 embedded computers with solid-state drives |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | code_ros, proprietary_app, teleoperation |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 1.5 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | code_ros, proprietary_app, teleoperation |
| ROS Support | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | research |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $400,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 150K+ |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | robotics education, research, service robotics, disaster response |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Payload (Peak), 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, 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 | Hubo 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $400,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 96.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | -$150,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | -38% |
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 Hubo 2?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Hubo 2 is made by KAIST, based in KR.
When were Darwin-OP and Hubo 2 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Hubo 2 launched in 2009.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Hubo 2?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Hubo 2 is listed at $400,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Hubo 2 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Hubo 2 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 Darwin-OP and Hubo 2 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 Hubo 2?
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 Hubo 2 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.