Darwin-OP vs Lola
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Lola (Technical University Munich (TUM)) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- LolaGermany
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Lola2010
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Lola0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- LolaResearch platform
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Lola—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- LolaACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Lola180 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Lola68 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Lolabipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Lolafull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Lola1.4 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- LolaNo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Lolaflat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Lola25
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Lola3
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- LolaNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- LolaOn-board PC
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- LolaNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Lola—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- LolaNo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- LolaC/C++
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Lola—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- LolaNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- LolaC/C++
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- LolaNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- LolaNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Lolaprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- LolaResearch platform
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Lola—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Lola—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Lola—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Lolaresearch, teleoperation
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Germany |
| Year First Available | 2010 | 2010 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 180 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 68 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.4 m/s |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 25 |
| Arm DOF | 3 | 3 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | On-board PC |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | C/C++ |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | C/C++ |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| 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 | research, teleoperation |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload, Payload (Peak), Hand DOF, 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 | Lola |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Lola 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 Lola?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Lola is made by Technical University Munich (TUM), based in DE.
When were Darwin-OP and Lola launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Lola launched in 2010.
How do Darwin-OP and Lola compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Lola grades B. 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 Lola 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 Lola?
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 Lola 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.