Expliner vs Knightscope K5
Side-by-side comparison of Expliner (HiBot) and Knightscope K5 (Knightscope) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- ExplinerJapan
- Knightscope K5United States
Year First Available
- Expliner2010
- Knightscope K52013
Verified Deployments
- Expliner0 Deployments
- Knightscope K50 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Expliner$3,298 USD
- Knightscope K5Contact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Expliner6 hrs
- Knightscope K5—
Availability Status
- ExplinerACTIVE
- Knightscope K5ACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Expliner80 kg
- Knightscope K5—
Max Speed
- Expliner0.5 m/s
- Knightscope K51.3 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Explinersemi-autonomous
- Knightscope K5—
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2013 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $3,298 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 6 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | 80 kg | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | semi-autonomous | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: 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 | Expliner | Knightscope K5 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $3,298 | No price |
| Payback period | < 1 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $246,702 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +7480% | — |
Knightscope K5 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 Expliner and Knightscope K5?
Expliner is made by HiBot, based in JP. Knightscope K5 is made by Knightscope, based in US.
When were Expliner and Knightscope K5 launched?
Expliner launched in 2010. Knightscope K5 launched in 2013.
How do Expliner and Knightscope K5 compare on the Robo Score?
Expliner scores 63.2 on the Robo Score. Knightscope K5 scores 60.0. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Expliner and Knightscope K5 in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Security on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Expliner and Knightscope K5?
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 security-robot vendor RFP: questions and red flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
The security-robot vendor RFP: questions and red flags
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A 90-day playbook to deploy a security robot
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Security robot platform decision framework
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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
Expliner vs Knightscope K5 compares two robots in the security category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Score is calculated.