Darwin-OP vs Walker
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Walker (UBTECH Robotics Corp Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- WalkerChina
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Walker—
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Walker0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- WalkerContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Walker2 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- WalkerACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Walker145 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Walker63 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Walkerbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Walkerfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Walker0.8 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- WalkerYes
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Walkerflat indoor, stairs
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Walker10 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Walker36
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Walker7
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Walker4
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- WalkerNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- WalkerIntel i7 7500U Frequency 2.7Ghz; Intel i5 6200U Frequency 2.3Ghz
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- WalkerNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Walkerfalse
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- WalkerNo
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- WalkerAI for natural language processing
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Walker2 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- WalkerNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- WalkerAI for natural language processing
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- WalkerNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- WalkerNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Walkercommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- WalkerContact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Walker—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Walker—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Walker—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Walkerteleoperation, eldercare_assistance, hospitality
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 145 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 63 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, stairs |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 10 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 36 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 4 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Intel i7 7500U Frequency 2.7Ghz; Intel i5 6200U Frequency 2.3Ghz |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | AI for natural language processing |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | AI for natural language processing |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| 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 (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | teleoperation, eldercare_assistance, hospitality |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Walker 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 Walker?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Walker is made by UBTECH Robotics Corp Ltd., based in CN.
How do Darwin-OP and Walker compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Walker 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 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?
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 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.