Digit vs ASIMO: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2022)
Agility Robotics (Amazon) vs Honda — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Digit leads in higher payload, longer runtime, while ASIMO leads in more DOF, faster speed. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
Digit
Agility Robotics (Amazon)
ASIMO
Honda
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Digit ASIMO
Specifications
$250,000PriceNever sold commercially
175 cmHeight130 cm
65 kgWeight48 kg
16DOF57
16 kgPayload1 kg
4hRuntime1h
1.5 m/sSpeed2.5 m/s
YesStairsYes
YesLiDARNo
N/AComputeProprietary Honda embedded systems
Task Capabilities
✓Pick up a box from shelf?
◔Open a door handle?
✕Pour liquid into cup?
✕Use a power tool?
✕Type on keyboard?
✓Climb stairs with load?
◔Walk on uneven terrain?
✕Run (>3 m/s)?
◔Crouch under obstacle?
✓Navigate in crowd?
✓Recognize & locate objects?
✕Respond to voice commands?
✓Detect humans nearby?
◔Work 8-hour shift?
✕Hot-swap battery?
◔Operate 24/7 (with charging)?
✕Work in rain (IP65+)?
✕Work below 0°C?
✕Work in dusty environment?
✓Work safely alongside humans?
Ecosystem Openness
55
Digit
/100
—
ASIMO
ROS2 compatible, Python SDK. Closed source. Limited public docs.
Pros and cons at a glance
Digit
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
Cons
- Premium pricing at $250,000 — enterprise budgets only
- Limited articulation (16 DOF)
ASIMO
Pros
- 57 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Discontinued by the manufacturer
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
- Low rated payload (1 kg) — research or light-handling tasks only
- Short runtime (60 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
Frequently asked questions
How do Digit and ASIMO compare on price?
Digit: $250,000. ASIMO: Never sold commercially. Only one of the two has a public unit price; the other publishes a range or enterprise-only terms.
Which has higher payload: Digit or ASIMO?
Digit rates a higher payload at 16 kg vs 1 kg. Payload ratings are vendor claims and do not always include a duty cycle — peak vs sustained payload can differ significantly.
Is Digit or ASIMO actually available to buy?
Digit is shipping to customers. ASIMO has been discontinued. Status reflects the vendor's published commercial position as of the last review and can change between announcement and actual delivery.
Which is better for ROS-based development: Digit or ASIMO?
Digit has ros2; ASIMO has no ROS support. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Digit or ASIMO use LiDAR?
Digit ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; ASIMO does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2022