Darwin-OP vs ROBOTERA STAR1
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and ROBOTERA STAR1 (Robotera) — 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
- ROBOTERA STAR1China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- ROBOTERA STAR12024
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- ROBOTERA STAR10 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- ROBOTERA STAR1$120,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- ROBOTERA STAR14 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- ROBOTERA STAR1ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- ROBOTERA STAR1171 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- ROBOTERA STAR163 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- ROBOTERA STAR1bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- ROBOTERA STAR1full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- ROBOTERA STAR13.6 m/s
Running Capable
- Darwin-OP—
- ROBOTERA STAR1run capable
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- ROBOTERA STAR1flat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- ROBOTERA STAR125 kg
Payload (Peak)
- Darwin-OP—
- ROBOTERA STAR120 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- ROBOTERA STAR155
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- ROBOTERA STAR17
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- ROBOTERA STAR112
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- ROBOTERA STAR1275 TOPS
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- ROBOTERA STAR1—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- ROBOTERA STAR1ERA-42 AI model
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- ROBOTERA STAR14 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- ROBOTERA STAR1ERA-42 AI model
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- ROBOTERA STAR1No
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- ROBOTERA STAR1prototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- ROBOTERA STAR1$120,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- ROBOTERA STAR1—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- ROBOTERA STAR1purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- ROBOTERA STAR1—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- ROBOTERA STAR1research, industrial, commercial_service
| | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $120,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 171 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 63 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 3.6 m/s |
| Running Capable (values differ) | — | run capable |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 25 kg |
| Payload (Peak) (values differ) | — | 20 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 55 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 12 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | 275 TOPS |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | ERA-42 AI model |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | ERA-42 AI model |
| 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 | $120,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | — |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, industrial, commercial_service |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: 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 | ROBOTERA STAR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $120,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 28.8 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $130,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +108% |
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 ROBOTERA STAR1?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. ROBOTERA STAR1 is made by Robotera, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and ROBOTERA STAR1 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. ROBOTERA STAR1 launched in 2024.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to ROBOTERA STAR1?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. ROBOTERA STAR1 is listed at $120,000.
How do Darwin-OP and ROBOTERA STAR1 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. ROBOTERA STAR1 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 ROBOTERA STAR1 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 ROBOTERA STAR1?
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 ROBOTERA STAR1 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.