Samsung Electronics To Become Largest Shareholder in Rainbow Robotics Accelerating Future Robot ....
Samsung Electronics today announced that it will
become the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics to accelerate future robot
development such as humanoid robots. Samsung first acquired a 14.7% stake in
the Korean firm in 2023 with investment of KRW 86.8 billion, and exercises a
call option to increase its stake to 35%. Rainbow Robotics will also be
incorporated as a subsidiary under Samsung Electronics’ consolidated financial
statements.
Through collaboration with Rainbow Robotics,
Samsung will further strengthen its foundation in the development of advanced
robot technology. Rainbow Robotics was founded in 2011 by researchers from the
Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology’s (KAIST) Humanoid Robot
Research Center who developed the first two-legged walking robot “Hubo” in
Korea.
By combining Samsung Electronics’ AI and software
technology with Rainbow Robotics’ robotics technology, the collaboration plans
to accelerate the development of intelligent advanced humanoids.
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.
With the collaboration, Samsung plans to utilize
Rainbow Robotics’ collaborative robots, dual-arm mobile manipulator and
autonomous mobile robots for manufacturing and logistics automation tasks.
These robots can greatly improve their work capabilities by learning and
analyzing situational data and environmental variables that occur in the field
through AI algorithms. Rainbow Robotics is expected to actively enter overseas
markets by utilizing Samsung’s global sales infrastructure.
Establishment
of Future Robotics Office
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.
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