As artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a core technology spanning all industries, RS Automation, a company specializing in robot motion control and automation solutions with both AI software and hardware capabilities, is drawing attention for strengthening its global leadership based on a solid customer network.
RS Automation signed a five-year contract in 2022 to supply smart controllers worth 63 billion won (approximately 47 million USD) to Rockwell Automation, the largest automation company in the United States. At the time, this was the largest single export contract for a domestic robot motion control company. Since then, the two companies have maintained a strong partnership, holding annual strategic meetings to explore joint growth strategies and continuing their collaboration.
This year, RS Automation confirmed that the performance improvements identified during the smart controller product testing phase, as well as the development progress based on the international standard cybersecurity lifecycle, have elevated the technical completeness of their products to meet the performance, security, and reliability standards demanded by major global clients. The new product significantly enhances reliability and user convenience compared to previous models, and is expected to expand business results through its global launch.
RS Automation also supplies servo drives to Yaskawa, one of the world's top four industrial robot manufacturers. The company is recognized for its technological prowess as the only overseas company supplying drives to Yaskawa, which is known for its stringent component quality standards. In addition, in 2024, RS Automation entered into a strategic partnership with Schneider Electric, Europe's largest automation group, to create synergies in the robot system solutions business. The two companies are expanding cooperation by integrating expertise in robot system design, software technology, system integration, and engineering, with plans to collaborate on the production of related products in the future.
Furthermore, in August, RS Automation invited Ken Goldberg, a world-renowned scholar in robotics and physical AI and a professor at UC Berkeley, to its headquarters to discuss potential collaborations. Professor Goldberg, a leading authority in the field and a professor of industrial engineering at UC Berkeley, has also collaborated with NVIDIA, a leader in AI semiconductors. He previously served as a professor to RS Automation CEO Kang Deokhyun during his studies in the United States. RS Automation is currently establishing a three-way collaboration system involving UC Berkeley, Ambi Robotics (co-founded by Professor Goldberg), and RS Automation.
With major partners secured across the Americas, Europe, and Japan, RS Automation aims to further strengthen its global leadership next year based on its proprietary physical AI capabilities. The company is the only domestic firm with a "motion control full-stack" structure that integrates controllers, servo drives, motors, sensors, and AI algorithms, and is focusing on developing a "Physical AI Robot Motion Platform" that unifies all processes of robot operation, including control, data, AI, edge updates, and smart tuning.
Having secured approximately 35 billion won in investment funds through a rights offering for existing shareholders in the second half of this year, RS Automation plans to invest in the internalization of next-generation technologies, including: ▲ development of AI control software platform technology ▲ development of edge computing-based drive platforms ▲ development of on-machine, humanoid, and defense drive modules, thereby solidifying its leading position in the global physical AI market. To this end, the company recently signed a business agreement with Sage, an industry-specialized vision AI company, to actively strengthen its AI technology competitiveness.
Kang Deokhyun, CEO of RS Automation, stated, "RS Automation is leading the K-robot components ecosystem in Korea based on export competitiveness through our global network," adding, "We will rapidly strengthen our global leadership next year in the global automation and robot markets by leveraging our core component competitiveness in controllers, drives, and encoders."
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