Darwin-OP vs Meinü robot
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Meinü robot (Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Meinü robot—
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Meinü robot2006
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Meinü robot0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Meinü robotResearch platform
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Meinü robot—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Meinü robotACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Meinü robot114 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Meinü robot140 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Meinü robotbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Meinü robotfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Meinü robot1 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Meinü robotNo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Meinü robotboth
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Meinü robot—
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Meinü robot—
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Meinü robot7
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Meinü robotNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Meinü robot—
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Meinü robotNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Meinü robot—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Meinü robotNo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Meinü robot—
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Meinü robot—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Meinü robotNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Meinü robot—
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Meinü robotNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Meinü robotNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Meinü robotresearch
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Meinü robotResearch platform
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Meinü robot—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Meinü robot—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Meinü robot—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Meinü robothome assistance
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2006 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 114 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 140 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1 m/s |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | both |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 7 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | — |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | — |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | — |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | research |
| 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 | home assistance |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload, 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 | Meinü robot |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Meinü robot 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 Meinü robot?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Meinü robot is made by Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
When were Darwin-OP and Meinü robot launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Meinü robot launched in 2006.
How do Darwin-OP and Meinü robot compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Meinü robot 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 Meinü robot 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 Meinü robot?
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 Meinü robot 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.