19 Years Β· America's Largest Robotics Integrator
Home/ Store/ Robot/ DARWIN OP3 Robot
DARWIN OP3 Robot β€” Robotis
Request a walkthrough

See the DARWIN OP3 Robot live.

Free, 30 minutes, same-day reply.

  • βœ“ Live demo with a product specialist
  • βœ“ Pricing, lead time, and financing options
  • βœ“ Q&A — bring your team
Overview

What is the DARWIN OP3 Robot?

The ROBOTIS DARWIN OP3 is the latest generation of the open-platform DARwIn-OP miniature humanoid robot line, and RobotLAB supplies it to universities, research labs, and advanced secondary programs across the United States. At roughly 510 mm tall and 20 degrees of freedom, it walks, balances, gets up after a fall, and tracks objects with an onboard HD camera, making it a capable testbed for bipedal locomotion, computer vision, and human-robot interaction work.

What sets the OP3 apart from earlier DARwIn-OP models is its modern computing and actuation. It runs an Intel NUC with a Core i3 processor and pairs it with 20 DYNAMIXEL XM430 smart servos that bring higher torque, current-based control, and Protocol 2.0 over the MX-28 actuators used in the prior OP2 generation. The platform is fully open source and programs in C++ and ROS using the DYNAMIXEL SDK, so research teams can dig into low-level motor data or build on the wider ROS ecosystem.

RobotLAB delivers the OP3 as a complete, assembled kit and supports it as a reseller, deployment, and training partner rather than the manufacturer. The package ships with multiple battery packs, a charger and power supply, cables, assembly tools, spare hardware, a tracking ball, and a hard carrying case so a lab can move from unboxing to experiments quickly. For institutions that prefer not to buy outright, RobotLAB also offers leasing and Robotics-as-a-Service options.

Specifications

Key specs

BrandROBOTIS
ModelDARWIN OP3 (ROBOTIS OP3)
TypeOpen-platform miniature humanoid research robot
HeightAbout 510 mm (17.9 in)
WeightAbout 3.5 kg (~20 lb, varies by configuration)
Degrees of freedom20 (6 per leg x2, 3 per arm x2, 2 neck)
Actuators20x DYNAMIXEL XM430 smart servos (Protocol 2.0)
Onboard computerIntel NUC with Intel Core i3 dual-core processor
Camera1920x1080 HD camera
IMU sensors3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis magnetometer
Walking speed24.0 cm/sec default (user-modifiable)
ConnectivityEthernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, Bluetooth
ProgrammingC++, ROS, DYNAMIXEL SDK (open source)
Operating systemLinux / Windows (32-bit and 64-bit)
In the boxAssembled robot, battery packs, charger, power supply, cables, tools, spare hardware, tracking ball, hard carrying case
Intended useUniversity/advanced research and education
Purchase Price$11,000
How it works

DARWIN OP3 Robot in detail

University robotics & AI research

With 20 degrees of freedom, current-controlled DYNAMIXEL XM430 actuators, and a full ROS toolchain, the OP3 is a proven testbed for bipedal locomotion, balance recovery, computer vision, and SLAM. Research teams can access low-level motor data such as acceleration and power consumption, making it well suited to control-theory and machine-learning experiments.

Human-robot interaction studies

The onboard HD camera, speaker, and articulated head and arms let researchers prototype gesture, gaze, and interaction behaviors. Because the platform is open source and programmable in C++ and ROS, HRI labs can fully customize the robot's perception and response loops rather than working inside a closed SDK.

Advanced robotics education

For higher-ed courses and advanced secondary programs, the OP3 gives students hands-on experience with a real walking humanoid and an industry-standard ROS workflow. RobotLAB typically recommends about one robot per five students and can pair the hardware with training to fit it into an existing curriculum.

RoboCup and competition robotics

The DARwIn-OP line has a long history in humanoid soccer and research competitions. The OP3's improved actuators and computing make it a strong choice for teams building autonomous, vision-driven game play and gait controllers for competitive events.

Compare

How the DARWIN OP3 Robot compares

SpecificationDARWIN OP3 RobotDARWIN OP3 RobotDarwin OP2 RobotNAO V6 Humanoid RobotNAO V6 Humanoid RobotDarwin Mini Humanoid RobotDarwin Mini Humanoid Robot
Best forUniversity & advanced-secondary research in bipedal walking, SLAM and human-robot interactionLabs upgrading from older Intel Atom hardware on a tighter budgetTurnkey classroom & lab humanoid with a mature education curriculumIntro classrooms learning humanoid coding without research-grade computing
Purchase price$11,000$9,600$16,990$499
HeightAbout 510 mm (17.9 in)About 455 mm (17.9 in)About 574 mm (22.6 in)About 270 mm
Degrees of freedom20 (6/leg, 3/arm, 2 neck)20 (6/leg, 3/arm, 2 neck)2516
Onboard computerIntel NUC, Core i3 dual-coreIntel Atom N2600 dual-coreIntel Atom E3845 quad-coreNo onboard PC (OpenCM controller)
Actuators20x DYNAMIXEL XM43020x DYNAMIXEL MX-2825x brushed/coreless servos16x DYNAMIXEL XL-320
Camera1920x1080 HD cameraHD camera2x camerasNone standard
ProgrammingC++, ROS, DYNAMIXEL SDK (open source)C++, ROS (open source)Choregraphe, Python, C++, SDKROBOTIS software, Arduino-compatible
Open-source platformYesYesNo (closed SDK)Partly
Best fitResearch & advanced educationResearch & education on a budgetEducation & HRI researchEntry-level education
Gallery

See the DARWIN OP3 Robot

Talk to a specialist

Get pricing & a free demo of the DARWIN OP3 Robot.

Same-day response. We handle delivery, on-site setup, staff training, and ongoing service nationwide.

Questions & answers

About the DARWIN OP3 Robot.

  1. Is the DARWIN OP3 ready to use out of the box, or does it require assembly?

    RobotLAB ships the OP3 as a fully assembled robot with battery packs, charger, power supply, cables, tools, spare hardware, a tracking ball, and a hard carrying case. You can power it on and begin working with the included quick-start materials. For setup guidance, integration, or a custom configuration, call 1-87-RobotLAB.

  2. What programming languages and software does the OP3 support?

    The OP3 is an open-source platform programmed primarily in C++ and ROS, using the DYNAMIXEL SDK to talk to the servos. Because it is ROS-compatible, teams can also leverage existing ROS packages for vision, navigation, and motion. If you need help matching it to your curriculum or research stack, call 1-87-RobotLAB.

  3. How is the OP3 different from the older DARWIN OP2?

    The OP3 upgrades the onboard computer to an Intel NUC Core i3 and replaces the OP2's MX-28 actuators with newer DYNAMIXEL XM430 servos that offer higher torque, current-based control, and Protocol 2.0. Both share the same 20-DOF humanoid layout, but the OP3 is the more capable research platform. To compare the two for your use case, call 1-87-RobotLAB.

  4. Who is the DARWIN OP3 best suited for?

    It is built for university and research-lab work in bipedal walking, computer vision, SLAM, and human-robot interaction, as well as advanced secondary robotics programs. It is a research and education platform, not a consumer or service robot. For program-fit advice, call 1-87-RobotLAB.

  5. Can I lease the OP3 or buy it through Robotics-as-a-Service instead of paying upfront?

    Yes. Alongside outright purchase at $11,000, RobotLAB offers leasing and RaaS subscription options so institutions can spread the cost. Call 1-87-RobotLAB to discuss terms and which model fits your budget.

  6. What kind of support and training does RobotLAB provide?

    As a nationwide robotics integrator, RobotLAB sells, deploys, trains, and services the robots it carries, including the OP3. We can help with onboarding, classroom or lab training, and ongoing technical support. Call 1-87-RobotLAB to set up training for your team.

  7. How many robots do I need for a classroom?

    RobotLAB generally recommends roughly one humanoid per five students for hands-on robotics coursework, though research labs often run a single unit. We can help size an order to your group and budget. Call 1-87-RobotLAB for a recommendation and quote.

Have another question? Same-day response.Request a quote β†’Book a demo
Related robots

More ai labs robots

Dobot Robotic Arm MG400 Workstation
Dobot STEM & Education

Dobot Robotic Arm MG400 Workstation

An industrial-grade desktop robotic-arm training cell that brings real automation, machine vision, and conveyor-line workflows into the classroom and research lab.

RaaS $669/mo(36mo)
From $19,995 purchase
Dobot Robot Vision Kit for Higher Education
Dobot Dobot

Dobot Robot Vision Kit for Higher Education

Turn a Dobot Magician into an eye-equipped automation cell β€” add machine vision for sorting, inspection, and AI research at a higher-ed budget.

RaaS $55/mo(36mo)
From $1,695 purchase
NAO Research Robot Add On- Storage and Transport Case
RobotLAB Robot

NAO Research Robot Add On- Storage and Transport Case

NAO Transport Case for Research

From $520 purchase
AgileX Bunker Rover
AgileX Research

AgileX Bunker Rover

A rugged, tracked all-terrain robot chassis built to climb, crawl, and carry where wheeled platforms stall β€” sold, deployed, and supported by RobotLAB.

RaaS $509/mo(36mo)
From $15,000 purchase