Darwin-OP vs Jules
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Jules (Hanson Robotics) — 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
- JulesHong Kong
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Jules2006
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Jules0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Jules$150,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Jules2 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- JulesACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Jules75 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Jules1905 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Julesbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Julesfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Jules0.3 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Jules—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Julesboth
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Jules5 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Jules28
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Jules7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Jules4
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Jules—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- JulesNVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Jules—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Jules—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Jules—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Julescode_python, code_ros, no_code_gui
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Jules2 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Jules—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Julescode_python, code_ros, no_code_gui
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- JulesYes
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- JulesYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Julescommercial
IP Rating
- Darwin-OP—
- JulesIP54
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Jules$150,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Jules150K+
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Julespurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Jules3 yrs
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Julesresearch
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Hong Kong |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2006 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $150,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 75 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 1905 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 0.3 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | both |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 5 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 28 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 4 |
| 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, no_code_gui |
| 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, no_code_gui |
| ROS Support | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP54 |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $150,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 150K+ |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | 3 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 (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 | Jules |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $150,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 36.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $100,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +67% |
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 Jules?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Jules is made by Hanson Robotics, based in HK.
When were Darwin-OP and Jules launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Jules launched in 2006.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Jules?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Jules is listed at $150,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Jules compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Jules grades BB. 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 Jules 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 Jules?
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 Jules 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.