Open-source hardware and software
IEEE Spectrum reports that DARwIn-OP's hardware and software are open source, which made it usable as a research and build-your-own platform. [1]
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP
Specs, price & availability · verified Oct 2026
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP is a 45.45 cm, 2.9 kg biped from ROBOTIS Co., Ltd. (South Korea), discontinued from 2010 at an MSRP of $12,000.
- Price
- $12,000
- Height
- 45.45 cm
- Weight
- 2.9 kg
- Total DoF
- 20
Last verified Oct 10, 2026
Price & availability
$12,000
Msrp · USD · ReportedReported — stated by a credible third party
Original price: US$12,000
Source: DARwIn-OP humanoid robot demo ↗ · Dec 9, 2010
2010 MSRP per the IEEE Spectrum update; not a current price
Discontinued from 2010
Current dataset status: Discontinued.
Other quoted prices
Historical, launch and third-party figures remain separated from the current price.
- $9,600Dec 9, 2010 · Press
US$9,600
Educational discount price in the IEEE Spectrum update
DARwIn-OP humanoid robot demo ↗
Product overview
About ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP
DARwIn-OP is a small open-source humanoid research platform developed by ROBOTIS with Virginia Tech, the University of Pennsylvania and Purdue University. ROBOTIS's specifications give a height of 454.5 mm, a weight of 2.9 kg and 20 actuated degrees of freedom: 12 in the legs, 6 in the arms and 2 in the neck.
The onboard computer is a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z530 system paired with a CM-730 controller. ROBOTIS lists a default walking speed of 24 cm per second and an 11.1 V, 1,000 mAh battery. IEEE Spectrum reported roughly 30 minutes of operation, a US$12,000 MSRP and a US$9,600 educational price at the robot's 2010 public debut.
The e-manual says the battery can be replaced while the robot is running if DC power is connected first. ROBOTIS's current platform index explicitly marks both OP and OP2 as discontinued; OP2 and then OP3 succeeded this model.
Capabilities
Key features
20 Dynamixel actuators
The robot uses 20 Dynamixel servo modules: 12 for the legs, 6 for the arms and 2 for the neck. ROBOTIS renamed the RX-28M actuator to MX-28. [5]
Onboard PC and sensors
An Intel Atom PC runs the robot with a head camera, a microphone, and a gyroscope and accelerometer in the torso. [1]
University collaboration
The robot was developed with Virginia Tech's RoMeLa team, the University of Pennsylvania's GRASP Lab and Purdue University, with ROBOTIS. [1][2]
Hardware profile
Specifications
Official — stated by the manufacturer or organizerReported — stated by a credible third partyEstimated — derived or approximate
Body
Mobility
- Maximum speed
- 0.24 m/sOfficial — stated by the manufacturer or organizer[5]Default walking speed 24.0 cm/s; user-modifiable gait
Power
- Battery
- 0.01 kWhEstimated — derived or approximate[5]Calculated from the official 11.1 V, 1,000 mAh battery specification
- Runtime
- 0.5 hReported — stated by a credible third party[1]About 30 minutes per IEEE Spectrum
- Swappable battery
- YesOfficial — stated by the manufacturer or organizer[3]Hot swap while running if DC power is connected first
Hands & Manipulation
- DoF per hand
- 0Official — stated by the manufacturer or organizer[5]The official 20-DoF breakdown has no hand joints
- Hand / end effector
- No articulated handsOfficial — stated by the manufacturer or organizer[5]
Compute & Sensing
- Onboard compute
- 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z530 PC with 4 GB flash SSD; CM-730 controller (ARM Cortex-M3, 72 MHz)Reported — stated by a credible third party[1]
- Sensors
- HD USB camera in the head, USB microphone, 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer in the torso, Optional FSR foot sensorsReported — stated by a credible third party[1]
Show unknown fields (4)
Mobility
- Peak joint torque
- Not published
Power
- Charge time
- Not published
Hands & Manipulation
- Payload
- Not published
Compute & Sensing
- AI stack
- Not published
Quick answers
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP FAQ
How much does ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP cost?
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP is listed at $12,000 (Msrp, reported). The source also states US$12,000. [1]
Can you buy ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP?
No general order page is verified. ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP is currently classified as discontinued. [3]
How tall is ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP and how much does it weigh?
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP is 45.45 cm tall and weighs 2.9 kg (ROBOTIS specification; IEEE Spectrum reported 2.8 kg in 2010). [5]
How fast is ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP?
Its stated maximum speed is 0.24 m/s; Default walking speed 24.0 cm/s; user-modifiable gait. [5]
How long does the ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP battery last?
The stated runtime is 0.5 hours per charge; About 30 minutes per IEEE Spectrum. [1]
How many degrees of freedom does ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP have?
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP has 20 listed degrees of freedom; 12 leg, 6 arm and 2 neck DoF. [5]
Does ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP have an open SDK?
Yes. ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP is recorded as providing a public developer SDK or API. [3]
Who makes ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP?
ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in South Korea. [3]
What is the predecessor or successor of ROBOTIS DARwIn-OP?
ROBOTIS OP2 (DARwIn-OP2) is its successor. [3]
Side by side
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Lineage
Model family
Evaluation footprint
Benchmarks & competitions
No benchmark embodiments or results reference this robot yet.
Related
Similar robots
Evidence
Sources
- [1]DARwIn-OP humanoid robot demo ↗IEEE Spectrum · press · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [2]Humanoid robot - Wikipedia ↗Wikipedia · database · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [3]DARwIn-OP getting started (ROBOTIS e-manual) ↗ROBOTIS · official · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [4]File:DARwIn-OP.jpg ↗Wikimedia Commons · database · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [5]DARwIn-OP references and specifications ↗ROBOTIS · official · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [6]ROBOTIS platform documentation index ↗ROBOTIS · official · accessed Oct 8, 2026