Darwin-OP vs Walker Tienkung EI
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Walker Tienkung EI (UBTECH Robotics Corp Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Walker Tienkung EIChina
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Walker Tienkung EI2025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Walker Tienkung EI0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Walker Tienkung EI$99,995 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Walker Tienkung EI3.5 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Walker Tienkung EIACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Walker Tienkung EI170 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Walker Tienkung EI73 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Walker Tienkung EIbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Walker Tienkung EIfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Walker Tienkung EI2.8 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Walker Tienkung EINo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Walker Tienkung EI复杂地形, 工业物流, 家庭服务
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Walker Tienkung EI300 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Walker Tienkung EI20
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Walker Tienkung EI7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Walker Tienkung EI6
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Walker Tienkung EIYes
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Walker Tienkung EIOrin算力板
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Walker Tienkung EINo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Walker Tienkung EIfalse
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Walker Tienkung EINo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Walker Tienkung EI支持ROS2生态
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Walker Tienkung EI8 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Walker Tienkung EINo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Walker Tienkung EIPython
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Walker Tienkung EINo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Walker Tienkung EIYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Walker Tienkung EIcommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Walker Tienkung EI$99,995 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Walker Tienkung EI80-150K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Walker Tienkung EIpurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Walker Tienkung EI—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Walker Tienkung EIembodied_AI_research, visuomotor_learning, human-robot_interaction_studies, advanced_manipulation
| | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $99,995 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 | 2.8 m/s |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | 复杂地形, 工业物流, 家庭服务 |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 300 kg |
| Total DOF | 20 | 20 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Orin算力板 |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | 支持ROS2生态 |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 8 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 | $99,995 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 80-150K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | embodied_AI_research, visuomotor_learning, human-robot_interaction_studies, advanced_manipulation |
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 | Walker Tienkung EI |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $99,995 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 24.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $150,005 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +150% |
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 Walker Tienkung EI?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Walker Tienkung EI is made by UBTECH Robotics Corp Ltd., based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and Walker Tienkung EI launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Walker Tienkung EI launched in 2025.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Walker Tienkung EI?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Walker Tienkung EI is listed at $99,995.
How do Darwin-OP and Walker Tienkung EI compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Walker Tienkung EI 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 Walker Tienkung EI 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 Walker Tienkung EI?
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 Walker Tienkung EI 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.