Darwin-OP vs TM Xplore I
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and TM Xplore I (Techman Robot Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- TM Xplore ITaiwan
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- TM Xplore I2025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- TM Xplore I0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- TM Xplore I$25,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- TM Xplore I2 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- TM Xplore IACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- TM Xplore I1600 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- TM Xplore I33.3 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- TM Xplore Iwheeled
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- TM Xplore Iwheeled humanoid
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- TM Xplore I0.8 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- TM Xplore I—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- TM Xplore Iflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- TM Xplore I20 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- TM Xplore I22
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- TM Xplore I—
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- TM Xplore I5
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- TM Xplore I—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- TM Xplore INVIDIA Jetson Orin
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- TM Xplore INo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- TM Xplore I—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- TM Xplore INo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- TM Xplore IAPI/SDK for task programming and customization
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- TM Xplore I2 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- TM Xplore I—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- TM Xplore IPython
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- TM Xplore INo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- TM Xplore IYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- TM Xplore Iprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- TM Xplore I$25,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- TM Xplore I40-80K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- TM Xplore I—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- TM Xplore I—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- TM Xplore Iinspection, quality_control
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | Taiwan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2025 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $25,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 1600 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 33.3 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | wheeled |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | wheeled humanoid |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 20 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 22 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 5 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | NVIDIA Jetson Orin |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | API/SDK for task programming and customization |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Python |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $25,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 40-80K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | inspection, quality_control |
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 | TM Xplore I |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 6.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $225,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +900% |
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 TM Xplore I?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. TM Xplore I is made by Techman Robot Inc., based in TW.
When were Darwin-OP and TM Xplore I launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. TM Xplore I launched in 2025.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to TM Xplore I?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. TM Xplore I is listed at $25,000.
How do Darwin-OP and TM Xplore I compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. TM Xplore I 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 TM Xplore I 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 TM Xplore I?
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 TM Xplore I 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.