K-Humanoids Accelerate Factory Deployment... 'Money-Making Robots' to Debut at CES

K-Robots Enter Proof-of-Concept Stage in Factories
Deployment Begins in Manufacturing and Logistics Sites
First-Ever Korean Robotics Pavilion at CES, Spanning 56 Pyeong

Domestic humanoid robot companies are set to unveil a large number of production models and, for the first time, demonstrate collaborative tasks involving repetitive operations on production lines at CES 2025, the world's largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, to be held in Las Vegas in January next year. Industry experts believe this will mark a turning point for the real-world deployment of humanoid robots in manufacturing sites.

According to industry sources on December 12, the "Humanoid MAX Alliance," a collaboration between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the robotics sector, will establish a "Humanoid Joint Pavilion (K-HEROID)" for the first time at this year's CES. The exhibition area will consist of 20 booths. Ten companies-including humanoid platform developers such as Arobot, as well as artificial intelligence and component manufacturers-will participate directly to showcase Korea's humanoid ecosystem.

The main highlight of this exhibition is to demonstrate that domestically produced humanoid robots have entered the proof-of-concept (POC) stage. Arobot will showcase a demonstration in which its robots, "Alice4" and "AliceM1," divide tasks and perform continuous operations. For example, one robot removes items from a factory conveyor belt and places them on a shelf, after which another robot moves the items to a different location-constantly replicating real factory scenarios. Another participating company, Robros, will exhibit its robot "IGRIS-C," demonstrating walking and interacting with visitors.

Korean companies have already confirmed productivity gains through on-site deployments. Arobot is preparing to supply its humanoid robot "Alice" for use at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' production site. The company is currently conducting proof-of-concept procedures at two sites: the Amorepacific cosmetics factory and the POSCO E&C construction site, as well as at two Samsung Heavy Industries shipyards.

Rainbow Robotics has deployed humanoid robots at Samsung Display to perform lens replacement in laser equipment, and at the CJ Logistics factory to handle picking, sorting, inspection, and packaging. Robros assists with assembly and transport processes at LG Electronics' home appliance factory, while Holiday Robotics is conducting proof-of-concept demonstrations for petrochemical product inspection and transport at SK Energy's factory.

Han Jaekwon, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Arobot, stated, "Now, K-robots are making money," adding, "We are not just putting on a show; we want to demonstrate that we are creating added value by directly entering industrial sites." An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy commented, "Although Korea is still aiming for third place in the robotics field, we will show that there are areas where we can excel."

Component manufacturers such as Aidin Robotics (robot hands), Tesolo (robot hands), Faraday Dynamics (servo motors), and SBB Tech (harmonic reducers) will also present their products. A representative from SBB Tech said, "We plan to highlight that Korean companies are producing key components for humanoid robots domestically," adding, "We have already moved beyond the development stage and started mass production."

The United States and China are already leading the commercialization of humanoid robots. "Digit" by Agility Robotics was deployed at a logistics center in Atlanta, Georgia, in June last year, becoming the world's first humanoid robot to perform actual tasks in a factory. Tesla is conducting pilot operations of "Optimus" at its Austin factory, with plans to shift to mass production starting next year. Figure AI is also testing its "Figure 02" robot at a BMW factory. In China, UBTECH has supplied its "Walker S" to manufacturing and logistics sites at BYD, Audi, and Foxconn, securing contracts for about 500 units.