IRON vs RoboThespian
Side-by-side comparison of IRON (XPeng) and RoboThespian (Engineered Arts) — specs, pricing, Robolist Product Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- IRONChina
- RoboThespianUnited Kingdom
Year First Available
- IRON2024
- RoboThespian2011
Verified Deployments
- IRON0 Deployments
- RoboThespian0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- IRON$150,000
- RoboThespian$88,000
Availability Status
- IRONACTIVE
- RoboThespianACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- IRON1780 mm
- RoboThespian1775 mm
Weight
- IRON70 kg
- RoboThespian44 kg
Mobility Type
- IRONbipedal
- RoboThespianbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- IRONfull bipedal
- RoboThespianfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- IRON1.2 m/s
- RoboThespian—
Stair Climbing
- IRONNo
- RoboThespian—
Terrain
- IRONflat floors, carpets, tiles, slight inclines
- RoboThespianboth
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- IRON5 kg
- RoboThespian—
Total DOF
- IRON22
- RoboThespian27
Arm DOF
- IRON22
- RoboThespian—
Hand DOF
- IRON22
- RoboThespian—
Bimanual Coordination
- IRONYes
- RoboThespian—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- IRONTuring AI chip
- RoboThespianTritium
VLM Capable
- IRONNo
- RoboThespian—
Foundation Models
- IRONfalse
- RoboThespian—
Imitation Learning
- IRONNo
- RoboThespian—
Programming
- IRONcode_python, no_code_gui
- RoboThespiantouchscreen, web browser, API
Battery & Power
Runtime
- IRON8.5 hrs
- RoboThespian—
Battery Swap
- IRONNo
- RoboThespian—
Software
SDK Languages
- IRONPython
- RoboThespiantouchscreen, web browser, API
ROS Support
- IRONNo
- RoboThespian—
Open API
- IRONYes
- RoboThespianYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- IRONcommercial
- RoboThespiancommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- IRON$150,000
- RoboThespian$88,000
Price Tier
- IRON150K+
- RoboThespian—
Pricing Model
- IRONpurchase
- RoboThespian—
Warranty
- IRON2 yrs
- RoboThespian1 yrs
Applications
- IRONelectric_vehicle_assembly, administrative_support, customer_service_operations, household_assistance
- RoboThespianentertainment, education, corporate events, exhibitions
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | China | United Kingdom |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2024 | 2011 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $150,000 | $88,000 |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 1780 mm | 1775 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 70 kg | 44 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 1.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat floors, carpets, tiles, slight inclines | both |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 5 kg | — |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 22 | 27 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 22 | — |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | 22 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Turing AI chip | Tritium |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, no_code_gui | touchscreen, web browser, API |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 8.5 hrs | — |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | Python | touchscreen, web browser, API |
| ROS Support (values differ) | No | — |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $150,000 | $88,000 |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 150K+ | — |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 2 yrs | 1 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | electric_vehicle_assembly, administrative_support, customer_service_operations, household_assistance | entertainment, education, corporate events, exhibitions |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, 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
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes IRON and RoboThespian?
IRON is made by XPeng, based in CN. RoboThespian is made by Engineered Arts, based in GB.
When were IRON and RoboThespian launched?
IRON launched in 2024. RoboThespian launched in 2011.
How much does IRON cost compared to RoboThespian?
IRON is listed at $150,000. RoboThespian is listed at $88,000.
How do IRON and RoboThespian compare on the Robolist Product Score?
IRON scores 62/100. RoboThespian scores 60/100. The Product Score blends specs, pricing transparency, verified deployments, and independent media coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are IRON and RoboThespian 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 IRON and RoboThespian?
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
About this comparison
IRON vs RoboThespian 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 Robolist Product Score is calculated.