Darwin-OP vs NimbRo-OP2X
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and NimbRo-OP2X (NimbRo) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Agriculture buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- NimbRo-OP2XGermany
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- NimbRo-OP2X2020
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- NimbRo-OP2X0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- NimbRo-OP2XContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- NimbRo-OP2X—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- NimbRo-OP2XACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- NimbRo-OP2X135 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- NimbRo-OP2X19 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- NimbRo-OP2Xbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- NimbRo-OP2Xresearch platform
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- NimbRo-OP2X—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- NimbRo-OP2Xflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- NimbRo-OP2X18
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- NimbRo-OP2X3
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- NimbRo-OP2XOn-board computer with GPU
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- NimbRo-OP2Xfalse
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- NimbRo-OP2XROS
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- NimbRo-OP2X—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- NimbRo-OP2XPython
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- NimbRo-OP2XNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- NimbRo-OP2Xprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- NimbRo-OP2XContact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- NimbRo-OP2X—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- NimbRo-OP2X—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- NimbRo-OP2X—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- NimbRo-OP2Xresearch, human-robot interaction
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Germany |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2020 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Agriculture buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 135 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 19 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | research platform |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 18 |
| Arm DOF | 3 | 3 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | On-board computer with GPU |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | ROS |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Python |
| 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 | Contact for quote |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | — |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, human-robot interaction |
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 | NimbRo-OP2X |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
NimbRo-OP2X 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 NimbRo-OP2X?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. NimbRo-OP2X is made by NimbRo, based in DE.
When were Darwin-OP and NimbRo-OP2X launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. NimbRo-OP2X launched in 2020.
How do Darwin-OP and NimbRo-OP2X compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. NimbRo-OP2X 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 NimbRo-OP2X 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 NimbRo-OP2X?
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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
Darwin-OP vs NimbRo-OP2X 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.