Darwin-OP vs RoboThespian 3
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and RoboThespian 3 (Engineered Arts) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- RoboThespian 3United Kingdom
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- RoboThespian 32016
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- RoboThespian 30 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- RoboThespian 3Contact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- RoboThespian 3—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- RoboThespian 3ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- RoboThespian 333 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- RoboThespian 3175 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- RoboThespian 3bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- RoboThespian 3full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- RoboThespian 3—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- RoboThespian 3No
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- RoboThespian 3flat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- RoboThespian 326
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- RoboThespian 3—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- RoboThespian 3No
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- RoboThespian 3Intel dual-core CPU, multiple Marvell and Parallax microcontrollers, external Intel Core i7 control unit
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- RoboThespian 3No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- RoboThespian 3—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- RoboThespian 3No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- RoboThespian 3Python scripting and API support
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- RoboThespian 3—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- RoboThespian 3No
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- RoboThespian 3Python
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- RoboThespian 3No
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- RoboThespian 3Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- RoboThespian 3commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- RoboThespian 3Contact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- RoboThespian 3—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- RoboThespian 3—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- RoboThespian 31 yrs
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- RoboThespian 3entertainment, education
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | United Kingdom |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2016 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 33 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 175 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 26 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Intel dual-core CPU, multiple Marvell and Parallax microcontrollers, external Intel Core i7 control unit |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Python scripting and API support |
| 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 | Contact for quote |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | — |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty | 1 yrs | 1 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | entertainment, education |
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 | RoboThespian 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
RoboThespian 3 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 RoboThespian 3?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. RoboThespian 3 is made by Engineered Arts, based in GB.
When were Darwin-OP and RoboThespian 3 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. RoboThespian 3 launched in 2016.
How do Darwin-OP and RoboThespian 3 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. RoboThespian 3 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 RoboThespian 3 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 RoboThespian 3?
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 RoboThespian 3 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.