Darwin-OP vs REEM-C
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and REEM-C (PAL Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- REEM-CSpain
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- REEM-C2013
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- REEM-C0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- REEM-C$300,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- REEM-C3 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- REEM-CACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- REEM-C165 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- REEM-C80 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- REEM-Cbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- REEM-Cfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- REEM-C0.7 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- REEM-CYes
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- REEM-Cflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- REEM-C1 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- REEM-C44
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- REEM-C7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- REEM-C19
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- REEM-CNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- REEM-CDual i7 computers
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- REEM-CNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- REEM-Cfalse
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- REEM-CNo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- REEM-CSDK
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- REEM-C3 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- REEM-CNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- REEM-CC++, Python
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- REEM-CYes
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- REEM-CYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- REEM-Cresearch
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- REEM-C$300,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- REEM-C150K+
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- REEM-Clease
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- REEM-C—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- REEM-Cresearch
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Spain |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2013 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $300,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 165 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 80 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 0.7 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 1 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 44 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 19 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Dual i7 computers |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | SDK |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | C++, Python |
| ROS Support | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | research |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $300,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 150K+ |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | lease |
| 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 (Peak), 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 | REEM-C |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $300,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 72.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | -$50,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | -17% |
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 REEM-C?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. REEM-C is made by PAL Robotics, based in ES.
When were Darwin-OP and REEM-C launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. REEM-C launched in 2013.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to REEM-C?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. REEM-C is listed at $300,000.
How do Darwin-OP and REEM-C compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. REEM-C 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 REEM-C 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 REEM-C?
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 REEM-C 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.