Kilobot vs TURTLE
Side-by-side comparison of Kilobot (Harvard) and TURTLE (Eindhoven University of Technology) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- KilobotSwitzerland
- TURTLE—
Year First Available
- Kilobot2014
- TURTLE2012
Verified Deployments
- Kilobot0 Deployments
- TURTLE0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kilobot4 hrs
- TURTLE2.5 hrs
Availability Status
- KilobotACTIVE
- TURTLEACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Kilobot—
- TURTLE80 kg
Max Speed
- Kilobot0 m/s
- TURTLE3.5 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Kilobotfully autonomous
- TURTLEfully autonomous
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Switzerland | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2014 | 2012 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 4 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | — | 80 kg |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0 m/s | 3.5 m/s |
| Autonomy Level | fully autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, 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 | Kilobot | TURTLE |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Kilobot, TURTLE have 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 Kilobot and TURTLE?
Kilobot is made by Harvard, based in CH. TURTLE is made by Eindhoven University of Technology.
When were Kilobot and TURTLE launched?
Kilobot launched in 2014. TURTLE launched in 2012.
How do Kilobot and TURTLE compare on the Robo Index?
Kilobot grades AA on the Robo Index. TURTLE grades B. 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 Kilobot and TURTLE 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 Kilobot and TURTLE?
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
Kilobot vs TURTLE 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.