Samsung accelerates move into humanoid robots
Samsung Electronics has acquired Korean startup Rainbow Robotics to accelerate the development of humanoid robots.
Rainbow Robotics was founded in 2011 by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology’s (KAIST) Humanoid Robot Research Centre who developed the first two-legged walking robot Hubo and Hubo 2 (above).
Samsung first acquired a 14.7% stake in the firm in 2023 with investment of KRW 86.8 billion (US$58m) and yesterday exercised an option to increase its stake to 35%. The value of the current deal was not disclosed.
The march of the humanoid robots
The key part of the deal is that Rainbow Robotics will also be incorporated as a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics to strengthen its foundation in the development of advanced robot technology for collaborative robots, dual-arm mobile manipulator and autonomous mobile robots for manufacturing and logistics automation tasks as well as AI for humanoid robots. Rainbow Robotics will also expand into overseas markets by tapping into Samsung’s global sales infrastructure.
Samsung will also form a synergy council with Rainbow Robotics to strengthen leadership in the advanced robot global business, with the council expected to serve as a bridge to foster the growth of both companies by developing future robot technologies and core business strategies and identifying and assessing market demand.
Samsung also established a Future Robotics Office reporting directly to the CEO. The office will focus on developing future robots including humanoid robots, aiming to secure competitiveness in new technologies for future robots that will advance current paradigms and transform them into a key growth engine.
Dr. Jun-Ho Oh, a founding member of Rainbow Robotics and honorary professor at KAIST, will serve as an advisor to Samsung and head of the Future Robotics Office after retiring from Rainbow Robotics. Dr. Oh will provide robotics technology and business expertise to Samsung’s future robot development from his deep experience in industry-academia collaboration
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
