Table 1. Principal categories for total cost of ownership (TCO) assessment

TCO category	Humanoid robotics	CAWs
Acquisition	Equipment purchase, installation, integration, and initial training.	Device cost, medical implantation, and training for the user and operator.
Operation	Routine maintenance, energy and consumables, and software licensing/subscriptions.	Clinical oversight, software updates, and safety/environmental management.
Upgrade and maintenance	Hardware module replacements and software updates.	Firmware updates and biocompatibility interventions.
End of life and disposal	Decommissioning, secure data deletion, and recycling/disposal.	Device removal surgery, data deletion, rehabilitation, and re-implantation.
Expected lifecycle	Typical operational lifespan assuming standard usage conditions.	Typical operational lifespan based on current device replacement cycles.
Key cost variability factors	Manufacturing scale, supply chain stability, and energy price changes.	Surgical advances, device miniaturization, and long-term biocompatibility.

The TCO categories presented here capture the principal cost drivers across the full lifecycle of each technology, from acquisition to end-of-life, and highlight the distinct factors influencing cost variability for humanoid robotics versus CAWs.
CAWs, cognitively augmented workers.