Humanoid Robot ROI took on the 2026 Lotte World Tower Skyrun.
Lotte Innovate said on the 20th that it deployed ROI to the Lotte World Skyrun event held on the 19th. The attempt was part of a robot transformation (RX) strategy to check the applicability of Humanoid Robot in an on-site environment.
Skyrun is a vertical marathon that began in 2017, in which participants climb 2,917 stairs up to the 123rd floor (555 meters) of Lotte World Tower.
ROI wore the official uniform on the 18th, the day before the event, and climbed stairs on part of the course. This was the first time a Humanoid Robot had taken part in the event. However, considering battery efficiency and safety, it ran only on part of the course, not the entire section, and the exact point reached was not disclosed.
Stair climbing is considered a high-difficulty task that requires a robot to control balance and recognize its surroundings at the same time. Lotte Innovate said it implemented stable movements by conducting reinforcement learning-based repeated simulations and training in environments similar to the site and by reflecting variables such as stair height and spacing.
A Humanoid Robot's stair walking is evaluated as a key technology that can be applied to industrial sites that require inter-floor movement, such as logistics, delivery, and security. If the technology advances, complex tasks such as carrying items with both hands while going up and down stairs would also be possible and could be used to automate patrols, inspections, and deliveries.
ROI also took part in major programs on the day of the event, stretching with participants and cheering at the starting line. At the awards ceremony, it helped present prizes and joined commemorative photos.
A Lotte Innovate official said, "We plan to begin in earnest to advance physical AI technology, which serves as the brain of robots, so they can take on dangerous and strenuous tasks in place of people."