Forerunner K2 vs PM01: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2025)
Kepler Robotics vs EngineAI Robotics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Forerunner K2 leads in more DOF, longer runtime, while PM01 leads in lower price. Overall, Forerunner K2 has an edge in 2 out of 3 compared categories.
Forerunner K2
Kepler Robotics
PM01
EngineAI Robotics
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Forerunner K2 PM01
Specifications
$34,800Price$13,700
178 cmHeight138 cm
85 kgWeight40 kg
52DOF23
15 kgPayload—
8hRuntime2h
—Speed2 m/s
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARYes
100 TOPSComputeIntel N97 + NVIDIA Jetson Orin (dual compute)
Ecosystem Openness
—
Forerunner K2
/100
45
PM01
Linux + developer SDK. Dual compute for custom dev.
Pros and cons at a glance
Forerunner K2
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Long runtime (8h per charge) for full-shift operation
- 52 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
PM01
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Affordable at $13,700 — accessible to research labs and SMEs
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
Cons
- Short runtime (120 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: Forerunner K2 or PM01?
PM01 is cheaper at $13,700 vs $34,800 for Forerunner K2. 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 Forerunner K2 and PM01 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.
Does Forerunner K2 or PM01 use LiDAR?
PM01 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Forerunner K2 does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2025