Robonaut vs TALOS
Side-by-side comparison of Robonaut (NASA) and TALOS (PAL Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, 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
- RobonautUnited States
- TALOSSpain
Year First Available
- Robonaut2011
- TALOS2017
Verified Deployments
- Robonaut0 Deployments
- TALOS0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- RobonautResearch platform
- TALOS$900,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Robonaut—
- TALOS1.5 hrs
Availability Status
- RobonautACTIVE
- TALOSACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Robonaut—
- TALOS175 mm
Weight
- Robonaut—
- TALOS95 kg
Mobility Type
- Robonautbipedal
- TALOSbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Robonautfull bipedal
- TALOSfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Robonaut—
- TALOS3 m/s
Running Capable
- Robonaut—
- TALOSstatic walk
Stair Climbing
- RobonautNo
- TALOSproduction ready
Terrain
- Robonautflat indoor
- TALOSrough_indoor, mild_incline
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Robonaut9.1 kg
- TALOS6 kg
Payload (Peak)
- Robonaut—
- TALOS6 kg
Total DOF
- Robonaut14
- TALOS32
Arm DOF
- Robonaut7
- TALOS7
Hand DOF
- Robonaut—
- TALOS1
Bimanual Coordination
- RobonautYes
- TALOSfull bimanual
Tool Use
- Robonaut—
- TALOSproduction validated
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Robonautrobot's torso
- TALOSUbuntu LTS, Real Time OS
Compute Platform
- Robonaut—
- TALOSIntel Core i7
VLM Capable
- RobonautNo
- TALOSnone
Imitation Learning
- RobonautNo
- TALOSNo
Teleoperation
- Robonaut—
- TALOSjoystick
Programming
- Robonautrobot's torso
- TALOSROS Control, Ethernet, Research-grade interfaces
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Robonaut—
- TALOS1.5 hrs
Battery Capacity
- Robonaut—
- TALOS1.1 kWh
Battery Swap
- RobonautNo
- TALOSNo
Safety
Force-Limited Arms
- Robonaut—
- TALOSYes
Fall Recovery
- Robonaut—
- TALOSYes
Human Detection Method
- Robonaut—
- TALOSmulti modal
Safe Speed Near Humans
- Robonaut—
- TALOSsoftware_defined
Software
SDK Languages
- RobonautC++
- TALOSC++, Python
ROS Support
- RobonautNo
- TALOSros2 vendor
Simulation Platforms
- Robonaut—
- TALOSROS
Open API
- RobonautNo
- TALOSclosed
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Robonautcommercial
- TALOSproduction pilot
Commercial
Price (USD)
- RobonautResearch platform
- TALOS$900,000 USD
Price Tier
- Robonaut—
- TALOS150K+
Applications
- Robonautteleoperation, research
- TALOSResearch platform
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | Spain |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2011 | 2017 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Research platform | $900,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | — | 1.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | — | 175 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | — | 95 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | — | 3 m/s |
| Running Capable (values differ) | — | static walk |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | production ready |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | rough_indoor, mild_incline |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 6 kg |
| Payload (Peak) (values differ) | — | 6 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 14 | 32 |
| Arm DOF | 7 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 1 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | Yes | full bimanual |
| Tool Use (values differ) | — | production validated |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | robot's torso | Ubuntu LTS, Real Time OS |
| Compute Platform (values differ) | — | Intel Core i7 |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | none |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Teleoperation (values differ) | — | joystick |
| Programming (values differ) | robot's torso | ROS Control, Ethernet, Research-grade interfaces |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | — | 1.5 hrs |
| Battery Capacity (values differ) | — | 1.1 kWh |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Safety | ||
| Force-Limited Arms (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Fall Recovery (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Human Detection Method (values differ) | — | multi modal |
| Safe Speed Near Humans (values differ) | — | software_defined |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | C++, Python |
| ROS Support (values differ) | No | ros2 vendor |
| Simulation Platforms (values differ) | — | ROS |
| Open API (values differ) | No | closed |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | production pilot |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | Research platform | $900,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | — | 150K+ |
| Applications (values differ) | teleoperation, research | Research platform |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Arm Reach, Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Foundation Models, Charging Time, Charging Method, Avg Power Consumption, Fall Detection Response, Emergency Stops, Air-Gap Capable, MTBF, Task Success Rate, IP Rating, Noise Level, RaaS / Month, Pricing Model, Developer Unit Price, Delivery Lead Time, Warranty, Production Pilots
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 | Robonaut | TALOS |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $900,000 |
| Payback period | — | 216.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | -$650,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | -72% |
Robonaut 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 Robonaut and TALOS?
Robonaut is made by NASA, based in US. TALOS is made by PAL Robotics, based in ES.
When were Robonaut and TALOS launched?
Robonaut launched in 2011. TALOS launched in 2017.
How do Robonaut and TALOS compare on the Robo Score?
Robonaut scores 38.4 on the Robo Score. TALOS scores 68.8. 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.
What is the payload difference between Robonaut and TALOS?
Robonaut carries up to 9.07 kg. TALOS carries up to 6 kg.
Are Robonaut and TALOS 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 Robonaut and TALOS?
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
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About this comparison
Robonaut vs TALOS 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 Score is calculated.