Darwin-OP vs PM01
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and PM01 (EngineAI Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- PM01China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- PM012024
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- PM010 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- PM01$26,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- PM012 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- PM01ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- PM01138.8 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- PM0140 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- PM01bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- PM01full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- PM012 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- PM01—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- PM01flat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- PM0115 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- PM0124
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- PM015
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- PM01—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- PM01Intel N97 CPU and NVIDIA Jetson Orin GPU
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- PM01—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- PM01—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- PM01No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- PM01Open-source AI framework with full ROS support
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- PM012 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- PM01—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- PM01Python
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- PM01Yes
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- PM01Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- PM01commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- PM01$26,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- PM0120-40K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- PM01purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- PM01—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- PM01research, education, embodied AI, algorithm development
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $26,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 138.8 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 40 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 15 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 24 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 5 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Intel N97 CPU and NVIDIA Jetson Orin GPU |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Open-source AI framework with full ROS support |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Python |
| ROS Support | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $26,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 20-40K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, education, embodied AI, algorithm development |
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 | PM01 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 6.2 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $224,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +862% |
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 PM01?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. PM01 is made by EngineAI Robotics, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and PM01 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. PM01 launched in 2024.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to PM01?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. PM01 is listed at $26,000.
How do Darwin-OP and PM01 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. PM01 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 PM01 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 PM01?
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 PM01 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.