Darwin-OP vs Mindar
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Mindar (Kokoro) — 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
- Mindar—
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Mindar2019
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Mindar0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Mindar$909,090 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Mindar48 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- MindarACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Mindar57 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Mindar195 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Mindarstatic
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Mindarfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Mindar—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- MindarNo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Mindarindoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Mindar100 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Mindar—
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Mindar—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- MindarNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- MindarIntel® Core™ Ultra X9 388H processor
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- MindarNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Mindarfalse
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- MindarNo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Mindar—
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Mindar48 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- MindarNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Mindar—
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- MindarNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- MindarNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Mindarcommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Mindar$909,090 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Mindar150K+
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Mindaroutright purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Mindar—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Mindarreligious service, cultural education
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2019 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $909,090 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 48 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 57 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 195 mm |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | static |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 100 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Intel® Core™ Ultra X9 388H processor |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | — |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 48 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 | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $909,090 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 150K+ |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | outright purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | religious service, cultural education |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, 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 | Mindar |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $909,090 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 218.2 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | -$659,090 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | -72% |
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 Mindar?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Mindar is made by Kokoro.
When were Darwin-OP and Mindar launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Mindar launched in 2019.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Mindar?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Mindar is listed at $909,090.
How do Darwin-OP and Mindar compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Mindar grades AA. 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 Mindar 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 Mindar?
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 Mindar 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.