Darwin-OP vs Robbyant R1
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Robbyant R1 (Ant Lingbo Technology) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Robbyant R1China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Robbyant R12025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Robbyant R10 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Robbyant R1$55,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Robbyant R1—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Robbyant R1ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Robbyant R1110 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Robbyant R1170 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Robbyant R1—
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Robbyant R1—
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Robbyant R11.5 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Robbyant R1No
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Robbyant R1flat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Robbyant R134
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Robbyant R12
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Robbyant R1No
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Robbyant R1MX6800 depth engine chip
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Robbyant R1No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Robbyant R1—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Robbyant R1No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Robbyant R1Open-source
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Robbyant R1—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Robbyant R1No
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Robbyant R1Python
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Robbyant R1No
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Robbyant R1Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Robbyant R1commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Robbyant R1$55,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Robbyant R140-80K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Robbyant R1—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Robbyant R1—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Robbyant R1hospitality, medical assistance, tour guiding, cooking
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2025 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $55,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 110 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 170 mm |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | — |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | — |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 34 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 2 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | MX6800 depth engine chip |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Open-source |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $55,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 40-80K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | hospitality, medical assistance, tour guiding, cooking |
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 | Robbyant R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $55,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 13.2 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $195,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +355% |
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 Robbyant R1?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Robbyant R1 is made by Ant Lingbo Technology, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and Robbyant R1 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Robbyant R1 launched in 2025.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Robbyant R1?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Robbyant R1 is listed at $55,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Robbyant R1 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Robbyant R1 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 Robbyant R1 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 Robbyant R1?
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 Robbyant R1 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.