Kirobo vs Sea Hunter
Side-by-side comparison of Kirobo (Toyota) and Sea Hunter (Leidos) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- KiroboJapan
- Sea HunterUnited States
Year First Available
- Kirobo2013
- Sea Hunter2021
Verified Deployments
- Kirobo0 Deployments
- Sea Hunter0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kirobo2.5 hrs
- Sea Hunter—
Availability Status
- KiroboACTIVE
- Sea HunterACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Kirobo—
- Sea Hunter907.2 kg
Max Speed
- Kirobo—
- Sea Hunter20.6 m/s
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2013 | 2021 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 2.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | — | 907.2 kg |
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 20.6 m/s |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, Reach, IP Rating, Autonomy Level
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 | Sea Hunter |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Kirobo, Sea Hunter 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 Kirobo and Sea Hunter?
Kirobo is made by Toyota, based in JP. Sea Hunter is made by Leidos, based in US.
When were Kirobo and Sea Hunter launched?
Kirobo launched in 2013. Sea Hunter launched in 2021.
How do Kirobo and Sea Hunter compare on the Robo Index?
Kirobo grades AA on the Robo Index. Sea Hunter 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 and Sea Hunter 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 Kirobo and Sea Hunter?
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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
Kirobo vs Sea Hunter 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.