Darwin-OP vs Justin
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Justin (German Aerospace Center (DLR)) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Hospitality & F&B buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- JustinGermany
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Justin2009
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Justin0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- JustinResearch platform
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Justin1 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- JustinACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Justin195 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Justin191 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Justinbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Justinresearch platform
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Justin2 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Justin—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Justinflat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Justin20 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Justin51
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Justin7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Justin13
Arm Reach
- Darwin-OP—
- Justin270 cm
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Justinfull bimanual
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Justin4x Intel Xeon Quadcore
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Justin—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Justin—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Justin—
Teleoperation
- Darwin-OP—
- Justinweb_interface
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Justincode_ros
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Justin1 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Justin—
Safety
Force-Limited Arms
- Darwin-OP—
- JustinYes
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Justincode_ros
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Justin—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Justin—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Justinprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- JustinResearch platform
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Justin—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Justin—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Justin—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Justinhousehold_work, space_assistance
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Germany |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2009 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 1 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 195 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 191 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | research platform |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 20 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 51 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 13 |
| Arm Reach (values differ) | — | 270 cm |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | full bimanual |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | 4x Intel Xeon Quadcore |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Teleoperation (values differ) | — | web_interface |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | code_ros |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 1 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Safety | ||
| Force-Limited Arms (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | code_ros |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | — |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | household_work, space_assistance |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Tool Use, Compute Platform, Battery Capacity, Charging Time, Charging Method, Avg Power Consumption, 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 | Justin |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Justin 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 Justin?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Justin is made by German Aerospace Center (DLR), based in DE.
When were Darwin-OP and Justin launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Justin launched in 2009.
How do Darwin-OP and Justin compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Justin 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 Justin 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 Justin?
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 Justin 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.