Kirobo vs Simon
Side-by-side comparison of Kirobo (Toyota) and Simon (Georgia Tech) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- KiroboJapan
- Simon—
Year First Available
- Kirobo2013
- Simon2008
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- KiroboContact for quote
- Simon$500,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kirobo2.5 hrs
- Simon—
Availability Status
- KiroboACTIVE
- SimonACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Autonomy Level
- Kirobo—
- Simonsemi-autonomous
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2013 | 2008 |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Contact for quote | $500,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 2.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | — | semi-autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Verified Deployments, Payload Capacity, Reach, Max Speed, 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 | Kirobo | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $500,000 |
| Payback period | — | 120.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | -$250,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | -50% |
Kirobo has 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 Simon?
Kirobo is made by Toyota, based in JP. Simon is made by Georgia Tech.
When were Kirobo and Simon launched?
Kirobo launched in 2013. Simon launched in 2008.
How do Kirobo and Simon compare on the Robo Score?
Kirobo scores 57.4 on the Robo Score. Simon scores 49.8. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Kirobo and Simon 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 Simon?
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
Kirobo vs Simon 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 Score is calculated.