Samsung Electronics is accelerating its push to secure core robot technologies with the launch of a “Physical AI Lab” under its RX Business Initiative Office, which reports directly to the CEO. The new organization is tasked with developing technologies that enable robots to move and perform tasks autonomously in real-world environments. Led by Chief Research Engineer Koo Dong-han as lab head, the team will focus on full-body humanoid control, locomotion, manipulation, and reinforcement and imitation learning.
Unlike traditional robots that simply repeat predetermined motions, the Physical AI Lab aims to develop robots capable of perceiving their surroundings, making judgments, and acting accordingly. Samsung Electronics incorporated Rainbow Robotics (277810) as a subsidiary last year and is now building internal capabilities in AI, control systems, and other core robot technologies. The company is consolidating its mid-to-long-term robot strategy, core technology development, and commercialization capabilities under the RX Business Initiative Office.
Against this backdrop, South Korean robot companies posted clear growth in their second-quarter results. Rainbow Robotics reported Q2 revenue of 12.31 billion won (approximately $8.7 million), up 97.9% year over year. Operating loss narrowed 1.4% to 2.03 billion won (approximately $1.4 million), with the operating loss margin improving from 33.1% to 16.5%.
Rainbow Robotics’ revenue mix shift is particularly notable. In the first half, mobile humanoid revenue reached 8.65 billion won (approximately $6.1 million), accounting for 40.48% of total revenue and overtaking collaborative robots (21.05%) as the company’s largest revenue category. Revenue from Samsung Electronics also rose 35.3% quarter over quarter to approximately 3.26 billion won (approximately $2.3 million) in Q2.
ROBOTIS (108490) achieved both top-line growth and profitability improvement simultaneously. Q2 revenue reached 15.37 billion won (approximately $10.9 million), up 95.1% year over year, while operating profit surged 722.9% to 1.98 billion won (approximately $1.4 million). The growth driver was actuators, the company’s core component. First-half actuator revenue totaled 26.67 billion won (approximately $18.8 million), representing 97.99% of consolidated revenue. Notably, Q2 revenue share from the Chinese market roughly tripled compared to Q1. The company resumed operations at its previously suspended China subsidiary in February and plans to officially launch the “Dynamixel-Q,” a quasi-direct drive (QDD) actuator designed specifically for humanoids, and “AI Sapiens,” a bipedal humanoid, in the second half of the year.
Doosan Robotics (454910) posted even stronger growth. Q2 revenue surged 290.0% year over year to 17.67 billion won (approximately $12.5 million). Operating loss narrowed 7.9% to 14.42 billion won (approximately $10.2 million). Building on Onexia, the North American automation solutions company acquired last year, the company expanded its business and raised North American revenue share to approximately 53% in the first half. Last month, Doosan Robotics relocated its North American subsidiary to a facility four times larger than its previous site and began expanding its workforce.
Doosan Robotics is shifting its strategic focus from expanding collaborative robot production volume toward high-value-added solutions. While its Suwon plant has maintained in-house collaborative robot production capacity of 2,200 units annually since 2024, outsourced production capacity declined from 1,000 units in 2024 to 488 units last year, and outsourcing has been halted entirely this year. The mid-to-long-term vision involves implementing skilled workers’ operational intelligence into collaborative robot arms and expanding into “industrial humanoids” that combine AI capabilities. The company is also exploring additional M&A and partnerships to secure physical AI technologies.
In contrast, Neuromeka (348340) showed relatively weak performance. Q2 revenue fell 17.9% year over year to 2.82 billion won (approximately $2.0 million), while operating loss widened 26.5% to 5.27 billion won (approximately $3.7 million). The operating loss margin deteriorated from 121.1% to 186.6%. While maintaining annual production capacity of 1,200 units for its flagship Indi7 collaborative robot, the pace of expansion into new businesses such as humanoids varies significantly among companies.
The Q2 results of major robot companies are summarized below.
CompanyQ2 RevenueYoY ChangeOperating Profit (Loss)Rainbow Robotics12.31 billion won+97.9%-2.03 billion wonROBOTIS15.37 billion won+95.1%+1.98 billion wonDoosan Robotics17.67 billion won+290.0%-14.42 billion wonNeuromeka2.82 billion won-17.9%-5.27 billion won
Note: Consolidated results based on each company’s quarterly reports
Profitability shows clear divergence among companies. ROBOTIS achieved a double-digit operating margin, while Rainbow Robotics and Doosan Robotics continued to post losses. With market expectations now translating into revenue growth, the next challenge will be converting expanded scale into stable profitability.
Some analysts argue it is premature to conclude that collaborative robot market growth has stalled. Market research firm Interact Analysis projects global collaborative robot shipments will grow from approximately 57,000 units in 2025 to 129,000 units by 2030. Collaborative robots are industrial robots designed to work alongside humans in shared spaces and can be viewed as the “arms” of humanoids. A recent trend involves combining the joint and control technologies accumulated in collaborative robots with mobility and AI to expand into full-body humanoids.
Goldman Sachs analyst Kim Do-hyung noted in a recent report, “Korean robot companies are benefiting from expectations around entering the humanoid supply chain outside China and expanding domestic humanoid adoption,” adding that “by 2035, Korean companies will be involved in 30% of global humanoid production, directly or indirectly.”