Forerunner K1 vs RAISE A1: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2024)
Kepler Robotics vs Zhiyuan Robotics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
RAISE A1 leads in more DOF, higher payload, lower price. Overall, RAISE A1 has an edge in 3 out of 3 compared categories.
Forerunner K1
Kepler Robotics
RAISE A1
Zhiyuan Robotics
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Forerunner K1 RAISE A1
Specifications
$30,000Price$27,500
178 cmHeight175 cm
85 kgWeight53 kg
40DOF49
25 kgPayload80 kg
8hRuntime—
—Speed1.94 m/s
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARYes
N/ACompute200 TOPS
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?
Pros and cons at a glance
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
RAISE A1
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- High rated payload (80 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
- 49 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: Forerunner K1 or RAISE A1?
RAISE A1 is cheaper at $27,500 vs $30,000 for Forerunner K1. 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: Forerunner K1 or RAISE A1?
RAISE A1 rates a higher payload at 80 kg vs 25 kg. Payload ratings are vendor claims and do not always include a duty cycle — peak vs sustained payload can differ significantly.
Are both Forerunner K1 and RAISE A1 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: Forerunner K1 or RAISE A1?
Forerunner K1 has no ROS support; RAISE A1 has ros2. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Forerunner K1 or RAISE A1 use LiDAR?
RAISE A1 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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