Darwin-OP vs Shalu
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Shalu (IIT Bombay) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Hospitality & F&B buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Shalu—
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Shalu2021
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Shalu0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Shalu$710 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Shalu—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- ShaluACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Shalu—
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Shalu—
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Shalubipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Shaluservice humanoid
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Shalu—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Shalunone
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Shaluindoor
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Shalu—
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Shalu—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Shalu—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Shalu—
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Shalu—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Shalu—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Shalu—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Shalucode_python, voice
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Shalu—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Shalu—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Shalucode_python, voice
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Shalunone
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- ShaluNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Shaluproduction pilot
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Shalu$710 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Shalu<10K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Shalu—
Developer Unit Price
- Darwin-OP—
- Shalu$680
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Shalu—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Shalueducation, hospitality, eldercare_assistance
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2021 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $710 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | — |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | — |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | service humanoid |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | none |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | — |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | code_python, voice |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | code_python, voice |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | none |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | production pilot |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $710 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | <10K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Developer Unit Price (values differ) | — | $680 |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | education, hospitality, eldercare_assistance |
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, 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 | Shalu |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $710 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $249,290 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +35111% |
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 Shalu?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Shalu is made by IIT Bombay.
When were Darwin-OP and Shalu launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Shalu launched in 2021.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Shalu?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Shalu is listed at $710.
How do Darwin-OP and Shalu compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Shalu 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 Shalu 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 Shalu?
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 Shalu 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.