Darwin-OP vs K2 Bumblebee
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and K2 Bumblebee (Kepler Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- K2 BumblebeeChina
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- K2 Bumblebee—
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- K2 Bumblebee0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- K2 BumblebeeContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- K2 Bumblebee8 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- K2 BumblebeeACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- K2 Bumblebee175 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- K2 Bumblebee75 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- K2 Bumblebeebipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- K2 Bumblebeefull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- K2 Bumblebee—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- K2 Bumblebee—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- K2 Bumblebeestructured environments
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- K2 Bumblebee15 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- K2 Bumblebee52
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- K2 Bumblebee11
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- K2 Bumblebee11
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- K2 Bumblebee—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- K2 Bumblebee100 TOPS
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- K2 Bumblebee—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- K2 Bumblebee—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- K2 BumblebeeYes
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- K2 Bumblebeecloud-based cognitive model
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- K2 Bumblebee8 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- K2 Bumblebee—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- K2 Bumblebeecloud-based cognitive model
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- K2 Bumblebee—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- K2 Bumblebee—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- K2 Bumblebeeproduction pilot
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- K2 BumblebeeContact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- K2 Bumblebee—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- K2 Bumblebeecapex
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- K2 Bumblebee—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- K2 Bumblebeelogistics_handling, manufacturing_assembly, research_development
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 175 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 | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | structured environments |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 15 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 52 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 11 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 11 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | 100 TOPS |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | cloud-based cognitive model |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | cloud-based cognitive model |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | production pilot |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | — |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | capex |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | logistics_handling, manufacturing_assembly, research_development |
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, 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 | K2 Bumblebee |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
K2 Bumblebee 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 K2 Bumblebee?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. K2 Bumblebee is made by Kepler Robotics, based in CN.
How do Darwin-OP and K2 Bumblebee compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. K2 Bumblebee grades A. 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 K2 Bumblebee 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 K2 Bumblebee?
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 K2 Bumblebee 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.