Darwin-OP vs XTRON KUAVO-MY
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and XTRON KUAVO-MY (Leju Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- XTRON KUAVO-MYChina
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- XTRON KUAVO-MY2023
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- XTRON KUAVO-MY0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- XTRON KUAVO-MY$57,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- XTRON KUAVO-MY—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- XTRON KUAVO-MYACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- XTRON KUAVO-MY45 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- XTRON KUAVO-MY147 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- XTRON KUAVO-MYbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- XTRON KUAVO-MYfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- XTRON KUAVO-MY1.3 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- XTRON KUAVO-MYNo
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- XTRON KUAVO-MYsand, grass
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- XTRON KUAVO-MY25 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- XTRON KUAVO-MY26
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- XTRON KUAVO-MY14
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- XTRON KUAVO-MY6
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- XTRON KUAVO-MYNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- XTRON KUAVO-MYKaihongOS on an embedded computing platform
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- XTRON KUAVO-MYNo
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- XTRON KUAVO-MY—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- XTRON KUAVO-MYYes
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- XTRON KUAVO-MYOpen-source motion controller
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- XTRON KUAVO-MY—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- XTRON KUAVO-MYNo
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- XTRON KUAVO-MYPython
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- XTRON KUAVO-MYNo
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- XTRON KUAVO-MYYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- XTRON KUAVO-MYprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- XTRON KUAVO-MY$57,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- XTRON KUAVO-MY40-80K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- XTRON KUAVO-MYpurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- XTRON KUAVO-MY—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- XTRON KUAVO-MYresearch, data collection, interaction tasks
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2023 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $57,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 45 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 147 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.3 m/s |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | sand, grass |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 25 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 26 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 14 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | KaihongOS on an embedded computing platform |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Open-source motion controller |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 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 (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $57,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 40-80K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | research, data collection, interaction tasks |
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 | XTRON KUAVO-MY |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $57,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 13.7 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $193,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +339% |
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 XTRON KUAVO-MY?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. XTRON KUAVO-MY is made by Leju Robotics, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and XTRON KUAVO-MY launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. XTRON KUAVO-MY launched in 2023.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to XTRON KUAVO-MY?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. XTRON KUAVO-MY is listed at $57,000.
How do Darwin-OP and XTRON KUAVO-MY compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. XTRON KUAVO-MY 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 XTRON KUAVO-MY 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 XTRON KUAVO-MY?
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 XTRON KUAVO-MY 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.