LAURON vs Simon
Side-by-side comparison of LAURON (FZI Research Center for Information Technology) and Simon (Georgia Tech) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Last-Mile Delivery buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- LAURONGermany
- Simon—
Year First Available
- LAURON2024
- Simon2008
Verified Deployments
- LAURON0 Deployments
- Simon0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- LAURON$185,000 USD
- Simon$500,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- LAURON900 hrs
- Simon—
Availability Status
- LAURONACTIVE
- SimonACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- LAURON816.5 kg
- Simon—
Autonomy Level
- LAURON—
- Simonsemi-autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2024 | 2008 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $185,000 USD | $500,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 900 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 816.5 kg | — |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | — | semi-autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: 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 | LAURON | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $185,000 | $500,000 |
| Payback period | 44.4 mo | 120.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $65,000 | -$250,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +35% | -50% |
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 LAURON and Simon?
LAURON is made by FZI Research Center for Information Technology, based in DE. Simon is made by Georgia Tech.
When were LAURON and Simon launched?
LAURON launched in 2024. Simon launched in 2008.
How much does LAURON cost compared to Simon?
LAURON is listed at $185,000. Simon is listed at $500,000.
How do LAURON and Simon compare on the Robo Index?
LAURON grades BBB on the Robo Index. Simon grades BBB. 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 LAURON 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 LAURON 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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
LAURON 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 Index is calculated.