[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] #CMES Robotics announced on the 30th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NC AI, the artificial intelligence (AI) subsidiary of NCsoftCorporation(036570), for “joint research and development and mutual technology sharing based on Physical AI.”

This agreement was initiated to combine the capabilities of CMES Robotics, which has been providing industrial automation solutions using physical AI-based robotics technology, with those of NC AI, which possesses core physical AI technologies such as WorldModel.

The two companies plan to advance physical AI technology—which enables robots to independently perceive their environment, make decisions, and perform tasks in industrial settings—and jointly develop next-generation robotics solutions applicable to real-world logistics and manufacturing sites.

CMES Robotics has been supplying solutions that automate non-routine tasks in logistics and manufacturing sites based on 3D vision technology and AI-based precision robot control technology. The company possesses a Vision Foundation Model (VFM) and a Robot Foundation Model (RFM)—which learn and improve using on-site data—as well as a data pipeline that links industrial robot operation data to a simulation environment.

NC AI is advancing its World Model—which enables robots to understand the physical laws of the real world and environmental changes to predict future states—and its RFM for implementing general-purpose robot intelligence. The World Model is a technology that trains robots in a virtual environment simulating reality and generates synthetic data.

Under the agreement, the two companies will pursue joint R&D based on Physical AI, mutual technology sharing, and the development and advancement of next-generation robotics solutions. They also plan to expand the scope of their collaboration in phases.

Both companies believe this collaboration will contribute to solving the shortage of training data and the gap between simulation and reality—issues identified as major challenges in Physical AI. The vision is to create a virtuous cycle where real-world field data is used to build virtual environments and train AI models, and the trained models are then applied back to the field.

Lee Seong-ho, CEO of CMES Robotics, stated, “Through this agreement, we have established a collaborative ecosystem with a key domestic partner in physical AI,” adding, “When CMES Robotics’ physical AI is combined with NC AI’s AI software, it will result in intelligent automation solutions that can be immediately utilized in actual industrial settings.”

Lee Yeon-soo, CEO of NC AI, remarked, “This will serve as a significant milestone in expanding the practical industrial application of Physical AI and accelerating intelligent automation in manufacturing and logistics environments,” adding, “We will continue to introduce next-generation Physical AI solutions that solve complex challenges in industrial settings and drive new innovations.”