Kirobo Mini vs Valkyrie
Side-by-side comparison of Kirobo Mini (Toyota) and Valkyrie (NASA) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Prices in
View savedOptimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Kirobo MiniJapan
- ValkyrieUnited States
Year First Available
- Kirobo Mini2016
- Valkyrie2013
Verified Deployments
- Kirobo Mini0 Deployments
- Valkyrie0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
- Valkyrie$2,450 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
- Valkyrie1 hrs
Availability Status
- Kirobo MiniACTIVE
- ValkyrieACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Kirobo Mini10 cm
- Valkyrie180 mm
Weight
- Kirobo Mini0.2 kg
- Valkyrie136 kg
Mobility Type
- Kirobo Ministatic
- Valkyriebipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Kirobo Minifull bipedal
- Valkyriefull bipedal
Stair Climbing
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Valkyrie—
Terrain
- Kirobo Miniflat indoor
- Valkyrierough_indoor, outdoor_unstructured
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Kirobo Mini—
- Valkyrie32
Arm DOF
- Kirobo Mini—
- Valkyrie7
Hand DOF
- Kirobo Mini—
- Valkyrie6
Bimanual Coordination
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Valkyrie—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Kirobo Mini—
- ValkyrieHigh-performance processors
Compute Platform
- Kirobo Mini—
- ValkyrieIntel Core i7
VLM Capable
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Valkyrie—
Imitation Learning
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Valkyrie—
Teleoperation
- Kirobo Mini—
- Valkyrievr_headset
Programming
- Kirobo Minidedicated app
- Valkyrieteleoperation
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
- Valkyrie1 hrs
Battery Capacity
- Kirobo Mini—
- Valkyrie1.8 kWh
Charging Method
- Kirobo Mini—
- Valkyrietethered
Battery Swap
- Kirobo MiniNo
- ValkyrieYes
Safety
Force-Limited Arms
- Kirobo Mini—
- ValkyrieYes
Software
SDK Languages
- Kirobo MiniJapanese
- Valkyrieteleoperation
ROS Support
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Valkyrieros2 community
Open API
- Kirobo MiniNo
- ValkyrieYes
Reliability
IP Rating
- Kirobo Mini—
- ValkyrieN/A
Deployment Maturity
- Kirobo Minicommercial
- Valkyrieprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
- Valkyrie$2,450 USD
Price Tier
- Kirobo Miniunder_50k
- Valkyrie10-20K
Pricing Model
- Kirobo Minioutright purchase
- Valkyriepurchase
Applications
- Kirobo Minieldercare_assistance, hospitality
- Valkyriehazardous_env
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | 2013 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $474 USD | $2,450 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 2.5 hrs | 1 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 10 cm | 180 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 0.2 kg | 136 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | static | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | rough_indoor, outdoor_unstructured |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | — | 32 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | — | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | — | High-performance processors |
| Compute Platform (values differ) | — | Intel Core i7 |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Teleoperation (values differ) | — | vr_headset |
| Programming (values differ) | dedicated app | teleoperation |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 2.5 hrs | 1 hrs |
| Battery Capacity (values differ) | — | 1.8 kWh |
| Charging Method (values differ) | — | tethered |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Safety | ||
| Force-Limited Arms (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | Japanese | teleoperation |
| ROS Support (values differ) | No | ros2 community |
| Open API (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| IP Rating (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | N/A |
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $474 USD | $2,450 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | under_50k | 10-20K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | outright purchase | purchase |
| Applications (values differ) | eldercare_assistance, hospitality | hazardous_env |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Walking Speed, Running Capable, Payload, Payload (Peak), Arm Reach, Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Tool Use, Foundation Models, Charging Time, Avg Power Consumption, Fall Recovery, Fall Detection Response, Emergency Stops, Human Detection Method, Safe Speed Near Humans, Simulation Platforms, Air-Gap Capable, MTBF, Task Success Rate, 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 | Kirobo Mini | Valkyrie |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $474 | $2,450 |
| Payback period | < 1 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $249,526 | $247,550 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +52643% | +10104% |
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 Kirobo Mini and Valkyrie?
Kirobo Mini is made by Toyota, based in JP. Valkyrie is made by NASA, based in US.
When were Kirobo Mini and Valkyrie launched?
Kirobo Mini launched in 2016. Valkyrie launched in 2013.
How much does Kirobo Mini cost compared to Valkyrie?
Kirobo Mini is listed at $474. Valkyrie is listed at $2,450.
How do Kirobo Mini and Valkyrie compare on the Robo Index?
Kirobo Mini grades AA on the Robo Index. Valkyrie grades BB. 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 Kirobo Mini and Valkyrie 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 Kirobo Mini and Valkyrie?
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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
About this comparison
Kirobo Mini vs Valkyrie 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.