Dreamer vs Kilobot
Side-by-side comparison of Dreamer (UT Austin and Meka Robotics) and Kilobot (Harvard) — 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
- Dreamer—
- KilobotSwitzerland
Year First Available
- Dreamer2012
- Kilobot2014
Verified Deployments
- Dreamer0 Deployments
- Kilobot0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Dreamer$400,000 USD
- KilobotContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Dreamer0.8 hrs
- Kilobot4 hrs
Availability Status
- DreamerACTIVE
- KilobotACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Max Speed
- Dreamer1.5 m/s
- Kilobot0 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Dreamerpartially autonomous
- Kilobotfully autonomous
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | — | Switzerland |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2012 | 2014 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $400,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.8 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Max Speed (values differ) | 1.5 m/s | 0 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | partially autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Payload Capacity, Reach, IP Rating
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 | Dreamer | Kilobot |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $400,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 96.0 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | -$150,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | -38% | — |
Kilobot 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 Dreamer and Kilobot?
Dreamer is made by UT Austin and Meka Robotics. Kilobot is made by Harvard, based in CH.
When were Dreamer and Kilobot launched?
Dreamer launched in 2012. Kilobot launched in 2014.
How do Dreamer and Kilobot compare on the Robo Index?
Dreamer grades A on the Robo Index. Kilobot grades AA. 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 Dreamer and Kilobot in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Research on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Research robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Research TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: The real cost of a research platform.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Dreamer and Kilobot?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
The real cost of a research platform
7 min readResearch & Lab Robots
The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags
11 min readResearch & Lab Robots
A 90-day playbook to stand up a new platform in a lab
8 min readResearch & Lab 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
Dreamer vs Kilobot compares two robots in the research 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.