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Research

Kilobot

Built by Harvard · Switzerland· Launched 2014

Updated Oct 2026·methodology

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Made by HarvardOpen company

#3 of 34 ranked Research robots (190 listed)

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RoboScore

66.6/ 100

Out of 100. Checks on sales, customers, specs and track record.

Very strong evidence

No named customers yet. The score uses the rest of its record.

5 of 9 checks have data

Updated daily from public data. Missing data is skipped, never counted as zero.

What counts

Average of the 5 checks with data. Checks without data are left out.

CheckWeightScore
On sale20%75/100
In use20%Not counted yet
Track record12%70/100
Specs on file12%90/100
Funding12%Not counted yet
Company age8%100/100
Other robots6%Not counted yet
News6%Not counted yet
Wikipedia entry4%Not counted yet
How the RoboScore is scored

Overview

The Kilobot swarm consisting of 1,024 individual robots was demonstrated by Harvard in 2014, the largest to date, showcasing swarm robotic capabilities.

Key specs

  • Built for swarm robotics
  • Used across research
  • Programmed through python

Will it fit your job?

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At a glance

Named customers0No named customer yetCompanyFounded 1992SwitzerlandList priceOn requestNo public price on recordAvailabilityNot yet on file

Specifications

From the makerCheckedEstimated
0.04 m/s
0.02 kg
4 h
Fully autonomous
2014
Contact for quote
Active

Detailed specifications

What it is built for3
Applications
sorting
swarm-research-robot
research
Movement & precision3
2
Max Speed M S
0.01
2
Sensing & perception1
Infrared sensor,Light sensor
Power & runtime1
Auto Charging
Yes
Controls & integration7
Max Fleet Size
1024
Yes
ATmega 328 microprocessor
Setup Time Hours
0.0833
Software Platform
open-source
Training Required
advanced_>5days
code python
Buying & support6
<10K
Datasheet Url
View Link
purchase
Deployment Count
1000
Availability Status
research-only
Countries Available
US

Who uses it

No named customer yet

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7 other robots in this category have one.

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Where to buy

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Company milestones(estimated)

  • 2026LaunchFirst commercial humanoid robot
  • Aug 2014DeploymentHarvard announces a thousand-robot Kilobot swarm
  • 2014LaunchKilobots described as a licensed technology for collective algorithms
  • 2012MilestoneHarvard completes assembly of 1,000 Kilobots
  • 1992MilestoneFounded as MIT spin-off

Compare with

Harvard in the news

the maker

2 events · last 12 months

  • Jul 26Harvard Kilobot Swarm: 1,024 Robots Self-Assemble
  • Apr 20Harvard scientists build robotic ants that work like real insect teams
Jul 26
Coveragethis robot1 outlet
Harvard Kilobot Swarm: 1,024 Robots Self-Assemble
Apr 20
Coverage1 outlet
Harvard scientists build robotic ants that work like real insect teams

News about Harvard, the maker, not about this robot specifically, except rows marked this robot. Collected and classified independently across 2 outlets, so a maker cannot add to it. It never changes this robot's RoboScore (the evidence half of the RoboIndex) and it can move it up a board by at most 15 points. See all Harvard news

Frequently asked questions

Who makes the Kilobot?
The Kilobot is developed by Harvard, based in Switzerland.
What type of robot is the Kilobot?
The Kilobot is a Research robot made by Harvard.
How much does the Kilobot cost?
Pricing for the Kilobot is not publicly listed. Contact Harvard for a quote.
When was the Kilobot launched?
The Kilobot was launched in 2014.

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