Darwin-OP vs Qinglong
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Qinglong (Shanghai Innovation Center) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Qinglong—
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Qinglong2024
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Qinglong0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- QinglongContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Qinglong—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- QinglongACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Qinglong180 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Qinglong30 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Qinglongbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Qinglongfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Qinglong—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Qinglong—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Qinglongboth
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Qinglong43
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Qinglong—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Qinglongnone
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Qinglong400 TOPS
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Qinglong—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Qinglong—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Qinglong—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Qinglongcode_python, code_ros
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Qinglong1 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Qinglong—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Qinglongcode_python, code_ros
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Qinglong—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Qinglongclosed
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Qinglongprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- QinglongContact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Qinglong—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Qinglong—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Qinglong—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Qinglongresearch
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 180 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 30 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | both |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 43 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | none |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | 400 TOPS |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | code_python, code_ros |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 1 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | code_python, code_ros |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | closed |
| 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 |
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 | Qinglong |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Qinglong 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 Qinglong?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Qinglong is made by Shanghai Innovation Center.
When were Darwin-OP and Qinglong launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Qinglong launched in 2024.
How do Darwin-OP and Qinglong compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Qinglong grades BBB. 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 Qinglong 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 Qinglong?
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 Qinglong 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.