Darwin-OP vs Metalman
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Metalman (Monash University) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Metalman—
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Metalman2021
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Metalman0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- MetalmanResearch platform
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Metalman800 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- MetalmanACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Metalman—
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Metalman1.5 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Metalman—
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Metalman—
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Metalman—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Metalman—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Metalmanoutdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Metalman—
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Metalman—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Metalman—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Metalman—
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Metalman—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Metalman—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Metalman—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Metalman—
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Metalman800 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Metalman—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Metalman—
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Metalman—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Metalman—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Metalman—
IP Rating
- Darwin-OP—
- MetalmanIP65
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- MetalmanResearch platform
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Metalman<10K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Metalmanpurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Metalman1 yrs
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Metalmantelecommunication, broadcasting, industry, military
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2021 |
| 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 | 800 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | — |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 1.5 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | — |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | — |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | — |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | — |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 800 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | — |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | — |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP65 |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Research platform |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | <10K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty | 1 yrs | 1 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | telecommunication, broadcasting, industry, military |
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, 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 | Metalman |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Metalman 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 Metalman?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Metalman is made by Monash University.
When were Darwin-OP and Metalman launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Metalman launched in 2021.
How do Darwin-OP and Metalman compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Metalman 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 Metalman 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 Metalman?
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 Metalman 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.