Will Samsung Also Create 'Samsung Bot'... Tech Companies Fascinated by Robots [Tech Talk by Lim Ju-hyung]

Samsung's 'Robot Business Team' Officially Launched
Previously Introduced Home Robots Handy, Care, etc.
AI and IoT Create 'Synergy' with Other Appliances
Global Tech Companies Accelerate Investment in Robot Industry

Seunghyun Jun, President of Samsung Research, is introducing robots developed by Samsung at the CES 2021 Samsung Press Conference. / Photo by Samsung Electronics

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Samsung Electronics, the largest company in Korea, recently drew attention by officially launching the 'Robot Business Team' in its organizational restructuring. Expectations are rising that the commercialization of care robots and home robots may be in full swing.

In fact, global tech companies' interest in the 'robot industry' has significantly increased recently. Thanks to advancements in mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), there is growing anticipation that robots can take their place not only on factory production lines but also in homes and face-to-face service environments.

◆Samsung Launches 'Robot Business Team'... Enhancing Customer Convenience with AI and IoT

On the 12th, Samsung upgraded its existing 'Robot Commercialization Task Force (TF)' to the 'Robot Business Team' in its organizational restructuring.

While the Robot Commercialization TF was a department that developed prototype products at the research stage and gauged commercialization potential, the newly established business team is expected to actively promote full-scale commercialization.

Samsung has consistently shown interest in the robot industry for quite some time. Even within 'Samsung Research,' a global R&D network established in 12 countries worldwide, robot-related projects have been underway for several years.

President Seung receiving a water cup from a handy robot / Photo by Samsung Electronics

The most representative example is 'Samsung Bot Care,' introduced at the world's largest electronics exhibition, the U.S. Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2019. Care is a 'home robot' that autonomously moves around the house and handles various chores through AI solutions and 3D sensors.

At this year's CES, Samsung additionally unveiled an upgraded version of Care and a future home robot called 'Handy.' Handy is a home robot equipped with a robotic arm that can organize dishes or move objects using its arm.

Samsung's robots are not just simple helpers. Samsung aims for a 'synergy' effect with existing products through its home robot system.

For example, Samsung currently manufactures various home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and TVs. However, these products are individual items with insufficient connections linking them together.

Handy operating in a home setting. / Photo by Samsung Electronics

Care and Handy can directly operate Samsung home appliances on behalf of users through AI and IoT technologies. For instance, Handy, a home robot with a robotic arm, can independently operate the washing machine and then transfer the washed laundry to the dryer after the cycle is complete.

Through this approach, Samsung not only maximizes customer convenience but also builds an 'ecosystem' where all products?from robots to home appliances?become a single solution.

Regarding this, Samsung emphasized on its official blog, "Robots will be the pinnacle of AI-based personalized services," adding, "It is important to enable them to act as companions in personal life through optimized integration of hardware and software."

◆Robot Market Growing 22% Annually... Tech Companies Competing Fiercely

Samsung is not the only tech company eyeing the robot business. LG Electronics, for example, has operated a Robot Advanced Research Institute under its Chief Technology Officer (CTO) since 2017. It has also strengthened its technology by acquiring robot-related companies such as SG Robotics and Robostar.

LG Electronics' food serving robot 'CLOi ServeBot' is serving at a restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by LG Electronics

As a result, LG Electronics launched the autonomous service robot 'LG CLOi ServeBot' in July and is selling it to various service sites in Korea.

Amazon, the U.S. e-commerce giant, also plans to enter the home robot market like Samsung. In September, Amazon unveiled its home robot product 'Astro,' priced at $999 (approximately 1.18 million KRW).

This robot moves by rotating two large wheels, expresses emotions through a display on its head, recognizes user voice commands, autonomously moves to check the home’s status, and performs various tasks such as pet monitoring.

Astro is an experimental product sold only by invitation to prospective buyers. It is closer to a stage of gauging potential market demand before full-scale mass production.

Why are tech companies like Samsung and Amazon interested in robot development? First, they benefit from autonomous driving technology. As autonomous driving technologies have advanced, cameras, sensors, and AI technologies that recognize images have also developed, significantly reducing the cost of making robots.

Autonomous delivery robot developed by the US shipping company 'FedEx'. / Photo by FedEx YouTube capture

Tech companies like Samsung and Amazon are already leaders in hardware and software development related to AI and image sensors. For them, the robot market is a sector they can enter more easily than other competitors.

At the same time, the potential of the robot market itself is enormous. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic made face-to-face interactions difficult, there is a growing movement to replace some service jobs with robots.

According to market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global robot market was only $24.5 billion (about 29 trillion KRW) in 2017 but reached $44.4 billion (about 52 trillion KRW) last year, recording an average annual growth rate of 22%.

In the past, 'robot products' were mostly industrial equipment that performed pre-programmed repetitive tasks, but now they have become very diverse, ranging from home robots to serving robots and unmanned delivery robots that deliver food or groceries instead of humans. Moreover, global tech companies’ technological competition is intensifying. Someday, a perfect assistant robot that handles all household tasks might truly emerge.