[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] As SamsungElectronics(005930)has launched a dedicated Physical Artificial Intelligence (AI) organization, major domestic robotics companies are also accelerating their growth. With sales increasing, particularly in humanoids and core components, investments in Physical AI—which had previously been limited to expectations—are now yielding tangible results.

According to the information technology (IT) industry on the 18th, SamsungElectronics recently launched the “Physical AI Lab” under the RX Business Promotion Office, which reports directly to the CEO. Senior Researcher Koo Dong-han serves as the lab director, leading research on full-body control of humanoids, walking, manipulation, and reinforcement and imitation learning. Following the acquisition of Rainbow Robotics(277810)as a subsidiary last year, SamsungElectronics appears to be accelerating its efforts to secure core robotics technologies—such as AI and control systems—within the company.

The Physical AI Lab develops technologies that enable robots to move and perform tasks autonomously in real-world spaces. Unlike traditional robots that simply repeat predetermined motions, the goal is to create robots that perceive their surroundings, make judgments, and act accordingly. SamsungElectronics is consolidating its capabilities—from mid- to long-term robotics strategies to the development and commercialization of core technologies—under the RX Business Promotion Office.

Growth is also evident in the financial performance of domestic robotics companies. Rainbow Robotics reported second-quarter revenue of 12.3 billion won, a 97.9% increase from the same period last year. Although the company continued to post losses, revenue nearly doubled, improving the operating loss ratio from 33.1% to 16.5%.

Business with SamsungElectronics also increased. Rainbow Robotics’ second-quarter revenue from SamsungElectronics totaled approximately 3.26475 billion won, a 35.3% increase from the first quarter. In the first half of the year, revenue from mobile humanoids reached 8.65289 billion won, accounting for 40.5% of total revenue and surpassing collaborative robots to become the top revenue-generating product category.

ROBOTIS(108490)Sales of actuators—a core component—drove these results. Second-quarter revenue reached 15.37213 billion won, a 95.1% increase year-over-year, while operating profit rose 722.9% to 1.98107 billion won. Actuators accounted for approximately 98% of total revenue in the first half of the year. The share of revenue from China also increased approximately threefold compared to the previous quarter.

Doosan Robotics(454910)also expanded its business scale, centered on its North American robotics solutions business. Second-quarter revenue reached 17.67402 billion won, a 290% increase year-over-year. As the company expanded its business based on OneXia, a North American automation solutions provider acquired last year, the share of revenue from North America rose to about 53% in the first half of the year.

Profitability varied by company. While ROBOTIS posted a double-digit operating profit margin, Rainbow Robotics and Doosan Robotics continued to post losses. As market expectations have begun to translate into revenue, the next challenge will be whether companies can convert their expanded scale into stable profits.

Kim Do-hyung, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, stated in a recent report, “Korean robotics companies are buoyed by expectations of entering the humanoid supply chain outside of China and the expanding adoption of humanoids domestically,” adding, “By 2035, Korean companies are projected to account for 30%—directly or indirectly—of global humanoid production.”