Robonaut vs Walker S1
Side-by-side comparison of Robonaut (NASA) and Walker S1 (UBTECH Robotics Corp Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, 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
- RobonautUnited States
- Walker S1China
Year First Available
- Robonaut2011
- Walker S12024
Verified Deployments
- Robonaut0 Deployments
- Walker S10 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- RobonautResearch platform
- Walker S1$75,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Robonaut—
- Walker S12 hrs
Availability Status
- RobonautACTIVE
- Walker S1ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Robonaut—
- Walker S1130 mm
Weight
- Robonaut—
- Walker S176 kg
Mobility Type
- Robonautbipedal
- Walker S1bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Robonautfull bipedal
- Walker S1full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Robonaut—
- Walker S10.8 m/s
Stair Climbing
- RobonautNo
- Walker S1Yes
Terrain
- Robonautflat indoor
- Walker S1flat indoor, uneven outdoor, gravel, tile, thick carpet, lawn
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Robonaut9.1 kg
- Walker S110 kg
Total DOF
- Robonaut14
- Walker S141
Arm DOF
- Robonaut7
- Walker S17
Hand DOF
- Robonaut—
- Walker S16
Arm Reach
- Robonaut—
- Walker S160 cm
Bimanual Coordination
- RobonautYes
- Walker S1Yes
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Robonautrobot's torso
- Walker S1Intel i7 8665U Frequency 1.9Ghz *2, NVIDIA GT1030 graphics card, 384 cores
VLM Capable
- RobonautNo
- Walker S1No
Foundation Models
- Robonaut—
- Walker S1false
Imitation Learning
- RobonautNo
- Walker S1No
Programming
- Robonautrobot's torso
- Walker S1ROS 2.0
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Robonaut—
- Walker S12 hrs
Battery Swap
- RobonautNo
- Walker S1No
Software
SDK Languages
- RobonautC++
- Walker S1Python
ROS Support
- RobonautNo
- Walker S1Yes
Open API
- RobonautNo
- Walker S1Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Robonautcommercial
- Walker S1commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- RobonautResearch platform
- Walker S1$75,000 USD
Price Tier
- Robonaut—
- Walker S140-80K
Pricing Model
- Robonaut—
- Walker S1purchase
Warranty
- Robonaut—
- Walker S12 yrs
Applications
- Robonautteleoperation, research
- Walker S1service, entertainment, education
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2011 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Research platform | $75,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | — | 2 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | — | 130 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | — | 76 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | — | 0.8 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor, gravel, tile, thick carpet, lawn |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 10 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 14 | 41 |
| Arm DOF | 7 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Arm Reach (values differ) | — | 60 cm |
| Bimanual Coordination | Yes | Yes |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | robot's torso | Intel i7 8665U Frequency 1.9Ghz *2, NVIDIA GT1030 graphics card, 384 cores |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | — | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | robot's torso | ROS 2.0 |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | — | 2 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Python |
| ROS Support (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Open API (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | Research platform | $75,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | — | 40-80K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | — | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 2 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | teleoperation, research | service, entertainment, education |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Tool Use, Compute Platform, Teleoperation, Battery Capacity, Charging Time, Charging Method, Avg Power Consumption, Force-Limited Arms, Fall Recovery, Fall Detection Response, Emergency Stops, Human Detection Method, Safe Speed Near Humans, Simulation Platforms, Air-Gap Capable, MTBF, Task Success Rate, IP Rating, Noise Level, RaaS / Month, Developer Unit Price, Delivery Lead Time, 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 | Walker S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $75,000 |
| Payback period | — | 18.0 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | $175,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | +233% |
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 Walker S1?
Robonaut is made by NASA, based in US. Walker S1 is made by UBTECH Robotics Corp Ltd., based in CN.
When were Robonaut and Walker S1 launched?
Robonaut launched in 2011. Walker S1 launched in 2024.
How do Robonaut and Walker S1 compare on the Robo Score?
Robonaut scores 38.4 on the Robo Score. Walker S1 scores 69.6. 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 Walker S1?
Robonaut carries up to 9.07 kg. Walker S1 carries up to 10 kg.
Are Robonaut and Walker S1 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 Walker S1?
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 Walker S1 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.