NEO vs Forerunner K1: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2026)
1X Technologies vs Kepler Robotics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
NEO leads in more DOF, lower price, while Forerunner K1 leads in longer runtime. Overall, NEO has an edge in 2 out of 3 compared categories.
NEO
1X Technologies
Forerunner K1
Kepler Robotics
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NEO Forerunner K1
Specifications
$20,000Price$30,000
168 cmHeight178 cm
30 kgWeight85 kg
75DOF40
25 kgPayload25 kg
4hRuntime8h
1.4 m/sSpeed—
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARNo
Proprietary (World Model AI onboard)ComputeN/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
10
NEO
/100
—
Forerunner K1
Proprietary World Model AI. No public SDK.
Pros and cons at a glance
NEO
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
- 75 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
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: NEO or Forerunner K1?
NEO is cheaper at $20,000 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.
Are both NEO 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.
Last updated: 2026