Robots must fill the roles people have left. We have dreamed of "freedom from labor" and have focused solely on robots for 26 years.
Kim Byung-soo, CEO of ROBOTIS (photo), a domestic core robotics corporations, emphasized the keyword "labor replacement" throughout the interview. Founded in 1999, ROBOTIS succeeded in developing homegrown actuators and reducers, growing into an original company drawing attention in the physical AI and humanoid markets.
ROBOTIS's slogan is "freedom from labor." The philosophy is for robots to take over 3D jobs that people avoid or that have already disappeared, so humans can focus on more creative and valuable work. Kim said, "As the AI revolution evolves into physical AI, these opportunities will only grow."
What put ROBOTIS on the map was the DYNAMIXEL actuator. Kim likens it to "a module that bundles a person's muscles, bones, and nerves into one." It is an all-in-one device that integrates a motor, reducer, sensors, controller, and communications unit, and is used in a variety of projects worldwide, from research to commercial robots. Its strength is that it can form a robot joint without complex wiring or assembly.
Thanks to this technological prowess, ROBOTIS developed the official platform for ROS (Robot Operating System) and established itself as a "standard reference" in research and education. This is the backdrop for how a parts specialist, not a giant manufacturer, secured a firm presence in the robotics ecosystem.
ROBOTIS's technology is already close to citizens. In the area around Magoknaru Station in Gangseo District, Seoul, autonomous delivery robots are in operation for beverage delivery, and in Yangcheon District's Paris Park, Omok Park, and Yangcheon Park, the robot "Gaemi" is active, handling food and beverage delivery, recyclable collection, and day-and-night patrols.
Gaemi drives while avoiding people and obstacles with autonomous driving algorithms and AI-based recognition technology, and it passes through elevators and automatic doors on its own. Kim explained, "It can safely run by recognizing the surrounding environment in real time and detecting moving objects," adding, "Robots have begun their role as 'small workers' in citizens' daily lives."
Another experiment by ROBOTIS is the AI Worker. It is "physical AI" that combines artificial intelligence with an in-house developed humanoid robot to perform simple, repetitive tasks. It learns and mimics human movements and takes on moving or sorting items in warehouses or factories. Kim said, "Our goal is to apply AI Worker to industrial sites to boost productivity and ease people's simple labor."
ROBOTIS has secured cost competitiveness compared with global rivals. By vertically integrating components, it is lowering procurement expense and pushing manufacturing automation through bold capital expenditures (CapEx). Kim said, "Our goal is to achieve excellent price competitiveness versus Chinese companies," adding, "The keys are supplying the hardware needed for mass-producing AI Worker and securing large-scale physical data." He emphasized, "We will work with global AI corporations to complete an AI workhorse that leads the market."
One interesting point is that 80% of ROBOTIS's sales come from overseas. The North American market, in particular, accounts for a large share. Kim noted, "Discussions on cooperation with various global big tech companies are active," and predicted, "As the era of physical AI and humanoids takes off in earnest, overseas demand will grow further."
Recently, ROBOTIS is set to develop a high-precision, high-performance finger-dedicated actuator that is two-thirds the size of its ultra-compact actuator. The autonomous delivery robot Gaemi is also being produced in a fifth-generation version with sharply reduced production costs. Kim said, "We will speed up market adoption with smaller, more precise parts and cheaper, smarter robots."