RoboThespian 3 vs Tien Kung 2.0
Side-by-side comparison of RoboThespian 3 (Engineered Arts) and Tien Kung 2.0 (X-Humanoid) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RoboThespian 3United Kingdom
- Tien Kung 2.0China
Year First Available
- RoboThespian 32016
- Tien Kung 2.02024
Verified Deployments
- RoboThespian 30 Deployments
- Tien Kung 2.00 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- RoboThespian 3Contact for quote
- Tien Kung 2.0$41,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.02.5 hrs
Availability Status
- RoboThespian 3ACTIVE
- Tien Kung 2.0ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- RoboThespian 333 kg
- Tien Kung 2.050 kg
Height
- RoboThespian 3175 mm
- Tien Kung 2.0160 mm
Mobility Type
- RoboThespian 3bipedal
- Tien Kung 2.0bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- RoboThespian 3full bipedal
- Tien Kung 2.0full bipedal
Walking Speed
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.01.7 m/s
Stair Climbing
- RoboThespian 3No
- Tien Kung 2.0Yes
Terrain
- RoboThespian 3flat indoor
- Tien Kung 2.0flat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.010 kg
Total DOF
- RoboThespian 326
- Tien Kung 2.020
Arm DOF
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.07
Hand DOF
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.05
Bimanual Coordination
- RoboThespian 3No
- Tien Kung 2.0Yes
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- RoboThespian 3Intel dual-core CPU, multiple Marvell and Parallax microcontrollers, external Intel Core i7 control unit
- Tien Kung 2.0Intel i7
VLM Capable
- RoboThespian 3No
- Tien Kung 2.0No
Foundation Models
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.0false
Imitation Learning
- RoboThespian 3No
- Tien Kung 2.0Yes
Programming
- RoboThespian 3Python scripting and API support
- Tien Kung 2.0ROS 2
Battery & Power
Runtime
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.08 hrs
Battery Swap
- RoboThespian 3No
- Tien Kung 2.0No
Software
SDK Languages
- RoboThespian 3Python
- Tien Kung 2.0Python, C++
ROS Support
- RoboThespian 3No
- Tien Kung 2.0Yes
Open API
- RoboThespian 3Yes
- Tien Kung 2.0Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- RoboThespian 3commercial
- Tien Kung 2.0commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- RoboThespian 3Contact for quote
- Tien Kung 2.0$41,000 USD
Price Tier
- RoboThespian 3—
- Tien Kung 2.040-80K
Warranty
- RoboThespian 31 yrs
- Tien Kung 2.02 yrs
Applications
- RoboThespian 3entertainment, education
- Tien Kung 2.0research, eldercare_assistance, teleoperation
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United Kingdom | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Contact for quote | $41,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | — | 2.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 33 kg | 50 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 175 mm | 160 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | — | 1.7 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 10 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 26 | 20 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | — | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 5 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel dual-core CPU, multiple Marvell and Parallax microcontrollers, external Intel Core i7 control unit | Intel i7 |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | — | false |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Programming (values differ) | Python scripting and API support | ROS 2 |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | — | 8 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | Python | Python, C++ |
| ROS Support (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | Contact for quote | $41,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | — | 40-80K |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | 2 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | entertainment, education | research, eldercare_assistance, teleoperation |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Arm Reach, 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, Pricing Model, 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 | RoboThespian 3 | Tien Kung 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $41,000 |
| Payback period | — | 9.8 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | $209,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | +510% |
RoboThespian 3 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 RoboThespian 3 and Tien Kung 2.0?
RoboThespian 3 is made by Engineered Arts, based in GB. Tien Kung 2.0 is made by X-Humanoid, based in CN.
When were RoboThespian 3 and Tien Kung 2.0 launched?
RoboThespian 3 launched in 2016. Tien Kung 2.0 launched in 2024.
How do RoboThespian 3 and Tien Kung 2.0 compare on the Robo Score?
RoboThespian 3 scores 68.4 on the Robo Score. Tien Kung 2.0 scores 59.5. 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 RoboThespian 3 and Tien Kung 2.0 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 RoboThespian 3 and Tien Kung 2.0?
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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
RoboThespian 3 vs Tien Kung 2.0 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.