Darwin-OP vs Tien Kung
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Tien Kung (X-Humanoid) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Tien KungChina
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Tien Kung2025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Tien Kung0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Tien Kung$41,200 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Tien Kung3.5 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Tien KungACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Tien Kung170 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Tien Kung73 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Tien Kungbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Tien Kungfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Tien Kung3.3 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Tien KungYes
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Tien Kungstairs, slopes, sand, snow, uneven terrain
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Tien Kung6 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Tien Kung20
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Tien Kung7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Tien Kung6
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Tien Kung—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Tien KungNvidia Jetson Orin
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Tien Kung—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Tien Kung—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Tien Kung—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Tien KungHui Si Kai Wu AI platform
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Tien Kung3.5 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Tien Kung—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Tien Kunglow-code
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Tien KungYes
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Tien KungYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Tien Kungresearch
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Tien Kung$41,200 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Tien Kungunder_50k
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Tien Kungoutright purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Tien Kung—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Tien Kungresearch, hazardous_env, industrial automation
| | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $41,200 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 3.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 170 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 73 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 3.3 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | stairs, slopes, sand, snow, uneven terrain |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 6 kg |
| Total DOF | 20 | 20 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Nvidia Jetson Orin |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Hui Si Kai Wu AI platform |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 3.5 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | low-code |
| ROS Support | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | research |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $41,200 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | under_50k |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | outright purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, hazardous_env, industrial automation |
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 | Tien Kung |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $41,200 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 9.9 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $208,800 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +507% |
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 Tien Kung?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Tien Kung is made by X-Humanoid, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and Tien Kung launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Tien Kung launched in 2025.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Tien Kung?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Tien Kung is listed at $41,200.
How do Darwin-OP and Tien Kung compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Tien Kung 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 Tien Kung 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 Tien Kung?
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 Tien Kung 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.