Samsung Confirms Subsidiary's Humanoid Robot Work, Plans 616 Billion RMB Plant

Samsung Electronics has confirmed that its subsidiary Rainbow Robotics is independently developing humanoid robots. Rainbow Robotics traces its origins to the HUBO humanoid robot laboratory at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which produced South Korea's first-generation bipedal humanoid robot. Between 2023 and 2024, Samsung Electronics gradually acquired a controlling stake in the company, making it a subsidiary.

Rainbow Robotics currently derives most of its revenue from the RB series of collaborative robotic arms. It is also advancing the commercialisation of the RBY1, a wheeled dual-arm humanoid platform, while developing prototype HUBO-series bipedal humanoid research robots.

Samsung Electronics plans to build a data factory in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, integrating process data from its existing Gumi production site to create a system that supports robot learning. Earlier reports indicated Samsung intends to build a humanoid robot mass-production facility in Gumi with a total project investment of approximately 13 trillion won (about 616 billion RMB).

On the artificial intelligence model front, Samsung Electronics has developed its proprietary 'Gauss' model and is working on a world model, a predictive model that learns physical laws from video data, enabling robots to simulate outcomes before acting. In addition, Samsung is independently developing actuators for humanoid robots, leveraging motor technology used in its home appliances.

The South Korean government regards 'physical AI' as a core direction for industrial upgrading. On June 29, 2026, President Lee Jae-myung announced a national strategy covering 2026 to 2036, with total investment of approximately 2,000 trillion won (about 1.3 trillion US dollars), built on three pillars: semiconductors, AI data centres, and physical AI. On July 6, Lee emphasised the need to pursue a 'speed war'. On July 21, Samsung Electronics established the RX Business Promotion Office, reporting directly to the chief executive, to oversee mid- to long-term robotics strategy and core technology development. At the same time, the company appointed Lee Dong-geon as head of the robotics strategy team and brought in experts including Kim Hyun-jin, a professor of aerospace engineering at Seoul National University.