Darwin-OP vs Joey Chaos
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Joey Chaos (Hanson Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Joey ChaosHong Kong
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Joey Chaos2008
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Joey Chaos0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Joey Chaos$100,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Joey Chaos2 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Joey ChaosACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Joey Chaos170 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Joey Chaos75 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Joey Chaosbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Joey Chaosfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Joey Chaos1.2 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Joey Chaos—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Joey Chaosboth
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Joey Chaos30 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Joey Chaos28
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Joey Chaos7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Joey Chaos10
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Joey Chaos—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Joey ChaosNVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Joey Chaos—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Joey Chaos—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Joey Chaos—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Joey Chaoscode_python, code_ros
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Joey Chaos2 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Joey Chaos—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Joey Chaoscode_python, code_ros
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Joey ChaosYes
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Joey ChaosYes
Reliability
IP Rating
- Darwin-OP—
- Joey ChaosIP54
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Joey Chaos—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Joey Chaos$100,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Joey Chaos80-150K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Joey Chaospurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Joey Chaos2 yrs
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Joey Chaosresearch, teleoperation
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Hong Kong |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2008 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $100,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 170 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 75 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | both |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 30 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 28 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 10 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | code_python, code_ros |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | code_python, code_ros |
| ROS Support | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| IP Rating (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | IP54 |
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $100,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 80-150K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | 2 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, teleoperation |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, 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, 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 | Joey Chaos |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $100,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 24.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $150,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +150% |
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 Joey Chaos?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Joey Chaos is made by Hanson Robotics, based in HK.
When were Darwin-OP and Joey Chaos launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Joey Chaos launched in 2008.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Joey Chaos?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Joey Chaos is listed at $100,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Joey Chaos compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Joey Chaos 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 Joey Chaos 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 Joey Chaos?
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 Joey Chaos 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.