PR1 vs Wave Glider
Side-by-side comparison of PR1 (Stanford Personal Robotics Program) and Wave Glider (Liquid Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- PR1United States
- Wave GliderUnited States
Year First Available
- PR12008
- Wave Glider2007
Verified Deployments
- PR10 Deployments
- Wave Glider0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- PR1$50,000 USD
- Wave GliderContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- PR12 hrs
- Wave Glider—
Availability Status
- PR1ACTIVE
- Wave GliderACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- PR125 kg
- Wave Glider215 kg
Reach
- PR11,831 mm
- Wave Glider—
Max Speed
- PR10.8 m/s
- Wave Glider1.5 m/s
Autonomy Level
- PR1semi-autonomous
- Wave Gliderfully autonomous
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2008 | 2007 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $50,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 2 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 25 kg | 215 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 1,831 mm | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | semi-autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: IP Rating
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 | PR1 | Wave Glider |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $50,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 12.0 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $200,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +400% | — |
Wave Glider 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 PR1 and Wave Glider?
PR1 is made by Stanford Personal Robotics Program, based in US. Wave Glider is made by Liquid Robotics, based in US.
When were PR1 and Wave Glider launched?
PR1 launched in 2008. Wave Glider launched in 2007.
How do PR1 and Wave Glider compare on the Robo Index?
PR1 grades AA on the Robo Index. Wave Glider grades A. 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 PR1 and Wave Glider 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 PR1 and Wave Glider?
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
PR1 vs Wave Glider 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.