Digit vs Forerunner K1: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2024)
Agility Robotics (Amazon) vs Kepler Robotics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Forerunner K1 leads in more DOF, higher payload, longer runtime, lower price. Overall, Forerunner K1 has an edge in 4 out of 4 compared categories.
Digit
Agility Robotics (Amazon)
Forerunner K1
Kepler Robotics
DNA Fingerprint Overlay
Digit Forerunner K1
Specifications
$250,000Price$30,000
175 cmHeight178 cm
65 kgWeight85 kg
16DOF40
16 kgPayload25 kg
4hRuntime8h
1.5 m/sSpeed—
YesStairsYes
YesLiDARNo
N/AComputeN/A
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
—
Forerunner K1
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)
Forerunner K1
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
- Long runtime (8h per charge) for full-shift operation
- 40 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: Digit or Forerunner K1?
Forerunner K1 is cheaper at $30,000 vs $250,000 for Digit. Note that lower price does not imply lower total cost of ownership — see the TCO calculator on the Explore page for utilisation-adjusted figures.
Which has higher payload: Digit or Forerunner K1?
Forerunner K1 rates a higher payload at 25 kg vs 16 kg. Payload ratings are vendor claims and do not always include a duty cycle — peak vs sustained payload can differ significantly.
Are both Digit and Forerunner K1 shipping to customers?
Yes. Both are commercially available as of the last review. Delivery timelines and customer geographies vary per vendor — check the manufacturer page for each.
Which is better for ROS-based development: Digit or Forerunner K1?
Digit has ros2; Forerunner K1 has no ROS support. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Digit or Forerunner K1 use LiDAR?
Digit ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Forerunner K1 does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2024
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