Samsung Electronics has reportedly created a dedicated robotics division called Samsung RX. The new unit will develop advanced robotic technologies and eventually sell specialized and multipurpose robots to businesses and consumers.
The company has launched the RX Business Promotion Office under the direct supervision of Samsung DX CEO, TM Roh.
Lee Dongkun heads Samsung RX and TM Roh will oversee it personally
Samsung RX will be headed by Lee Dongkun, vice president of Samsung Electronics' Planning Team and head of the Robotics Strategy Team. He previously led robotics strategy at Hyundai Motor Group, including its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, and will oversee the long-term roadmap for Samsung's robotics business.
The division is also adding prominent robotics researchers. Seoul National University professor Hyun-Jin Kim, a world-renowned robotics scholar, and Ajou University professor Eui-Kyum Kim, who has conducted leading research on robot hands and manipulation, are joining Samsung RX.
Samsung will designate its Seoul R&D Campus in Umyeon-dong as its main robotics development hub, bringing together employees with robotics know-how from various divisions. It will also establish research and development (R&D) hubs in China, Japan, and the US to tap into local talent and robotics ecosystems.
The company aims to make substantial progress in the humanoid robot segment this year.
To support its work, Samsung will create a data factory at its Gumi plant in South Korea to collect data, which is critical to robotics development. Through close collaboration with its R&D center in Seoul, Samsung RX aims to advance robot intelligence.
Samsung will first deploy its robots at its manufacturing plants
Samsung will first develop and deploy manufacturing and logistics robots at its own factories. It will use them to collect data and refine its technologies before selling the robots to other companies in the B2B segment. The company will later develop and sell robots for retail and home use.
The South Korean firm says it will consider investments and acquisitions when necessary to accelerate the development of Samsung RX and commercialize its robotics technologies. The company said recent developments have made robotics increasingly important to its business.
The company had showcased the GEMS (Gait Enhancing & Motivating System) wearable robotic exoskeleton at the CES 2020 expo. It was developed to help users, such as the elderly, who have trouble walking, running, or even standing up. Samsung planned to launch it in 2022, but GEMS was never launched. The company could now move all those efforts to Samsung RX.
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