HRP-4C vs Kirobo Mini
Side-by-side comparison of HRP-4C (AIST) and Kirobo Mini (Toyota) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- HRP-4CJapan
- Kirobo MiniJapan
Year First Available
- HRP-4C2009
- Kirobo Mini2016
Verified Deployments
- HRP-4C0 Deployments
- Kirobo Mini0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- HRP-4C$200,000–$325,000 USD
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- HRP-4C0.3 hrs
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
Availability Status
- HRP-4CACTIVE
- Kirobo MiniACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- HRP-4C158 mm
- Kirobo Mini10 cm
Weight
- HRP-4C46 kg
- Kirobo Mini0.2 kg
Mobility Type
- HRP-4Cbipedal
- Kirobo Ministatic
Humanoid Subtype
- HRP-4Cfull bipedal
- Kirobo Minifull bipedal
Walking Speed
- HRP-4C0.5 m/s
- Kirobo Mini—
Running Capable
- HRP-4Cstatic walk
- Kirobo Mini—
Stair Climbing
- HRP-4Cnone
- Kirobo MiniNo
Terrain
- HRP-4Cflat_indoor
- Kirobo Miniflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- HRP-4C0.5 kg
- Kirobo Mini—
Total DOF
- HRP-4C42
- Kirobo Mini—
Arm DOF
- HRP-4C6
- Kirobo Mini—
Hand DOF
- HRP-4C2
- Kirobo Mini—
Bimanual Coordination
- HRP-4Cindependent
- Kirobo MiniNo
Tool Use
- HRP-4Cnone
- Kirobo Mini—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- HRP-4CIntel Pentium M 1.6 GHz
- Kirobo Mini—
VLM Capable
- HRP-4Cnone
- Kirobo MiniNo
Foundation Models
- HRP-4Cfalse
- Kirobo Mini—
Imitation Learning
- HRP-4Csingle task
- Kirobo MiniNo
Teleoperation
- HRP-4Cmotion_capture
- Kirobo Mini—
Programming
- HRP-4Cmotion_capture, teleoperation
- Kirobo Minidedicated app
Battery & Power
Runtime
- HRP-4C0.3 hrs
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
Battery Swap
- HRP-4CNo
- Kirobo MiniNo
Safety
Force-Limited Arms
- HRP-4CYes
- Kirobo Mini—
Fall Recovery
- HRP-4CYes
- Kirobo Mini—
Human Detection Method
- HRP-4Cvision human
- Kirobo Mini—
Safe Speed Near Humans
- HRP-4Cnone
- Kirobo Mini—
Software
SDK Languages
- HRP-4Cmotion_capture, teleoperation
- Kirobo MiniJapanese
ROS Support
- HRP-4Cnone
- Kirobo MiniNo
Simulation Platforms
- HRP-4COpenHRP3
- Kirobo Mini—
Open API
- HRP-4Cclosed
- Kirobo MiniNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- HRP-4Cprototype
- Kirobo Minicommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- HRP-4C$200,000–$325,000 USD
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
Price Tier
- HRP-4C—
- Kirobo Miniunder_50k
Pricing Model
- HRP-4C—
- Kirobo Minioutright purchase
Applications
- HRP-4Centertainment, research
- Kirobo Minieldercare_assistance, hospitality
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | Japan | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2009 | 2016 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $200,000–$325,000 USD | $474 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 0.3 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 158 mm | 10 cm |
| Weight (values differ) | 46 kg | 0.2 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | static |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.5 m/s | — |
| Running Capable (values differ) | static walk | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | none | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat_indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 0.5 kg | — |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 42 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 6 | — |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | 2 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | independent | No |
| Tool Use (values differ) | none | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz | — |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | none | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | single task | No |
| Teleoperation (values differ) | motion_capture | — |
| Programming (values differ) | motion_capture, teleoperation | dedicated app |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.3 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Safety | ||
| Force-Limited Arms (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Fall Recovery (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Human Detection Method (values differ) | vision human | — |
| Safe Speed Near Humans (values differ) | none | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | motion_capture, teleoperation | Japanese |
| ROS Support (values differ) | none | No |
| Simulation Platforms (values differ) | OpenHRP3 | — |
| Open API (values differ) | closed | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | prototype | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $200,000–$325,000 USD | $474 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | — | under_50k |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | — | outright purchase |
| Applications (values differ) | entertainment, research | eldercare_assistance, hospitality |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Payload (Peak), Arm Reach, Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Compute Platform, Battery Capacity, Charging Time, Charging Method, Avg Power Consumption, Fall Detection Response, Emergency Stops, Air-Gap Capable, MTBF, Task Success Rate, IP Rating, Noise Level, RaaS / Month, Developer Unit Price, Delivery Lead Time, Warranty, Production Pilots
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
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 | HRP-4C | Kirobo Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $262,500 | $474 |
| Payback period | 63.0 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | -$12,500 | $249,526 |
| ROI (5 yr) | -5% | +52643% |
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 HRP-4C and Kirobo Mini?
HRP-4C is made by AIST, based in JP. Kirobo Mini is made by Toyota, based in JP.
When were HRP-4C and Kirobo Mini launched?
HRP-4C launched in 2009. Kirobo Mini launched in 2016.
How do HRP-4C and Kirobo Mini compare on the Robo Index?
HRP-4C grades A on the Robo Index. Kirobo Mini 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 HRP-4C and Kirobo Mini 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 HRP-4C and Kirobo Mini?
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
HRP-4C vs Kirobo Mini 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.