Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited a robotics development site on Tuesday, marking his fourth anniversary in office without holding a separate ceremony.
The visit was aimed at reviewing technological development and commercialization plans for humanoid robots and accelerating efforts to cultivate next-generation growth businesses.
According to the electronics industry, Lee visited the RX (Robotics eXperience) Business Promotion Office located at the Samsung Electronics Seoul R&D campus in Umyeondong, Seoul, on Tuesday. This is his first visit since the organization was established in July. (☞ Our October 21 report [Exclusive] Chairman Lee Jae-yong personally oversees robotics business… First on-site inspection of 'RX')
It is reported that researchers at the RX Business Promotion Office demonstrated precision manipulation technology utilizing the arms and hands of a humanoid robot. The chairman reviewed development results and preparation status ahead of 'CES 2027,' the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition, to be held in Las Vegas, USA, next January.
Since his appointment, the chairman has consistently emphasized strengthening technological competitiveness and securing future growth engines. This year as well, he dedicated time to reviewing the progress of the robotics business instead of holding a separate inauguration commemorative event.
Prior to this, Noh Tae-won, president of Samsung Electronics' DX (Device eXperience) Division, also visited the RX Business Promotion Office last week to oversee development status. Observers speculate that commercialization is accelerating, as President Noh returned to the site following his attendance at a robotics demonstration for executives in August.
The RX Business Promotion Office is an organization newly established directly under President Noh in July. It consolidates robotics development capabilities previously dispersed across various organizations and oversees everything from formulating mid-to-long-term strategies to developing core technologies and commercialization.
Samsung Electronics is focusing on securing precision manipulation technology that can be utilized by humanoids in manufacturing sites, while expanding specialized personnel and R&D infrastructure.
In particular, the area where development capabilities are concentrated is the robot's 'hand.' For a robot to replace human work in a manufacturing site, it must precisely control finger movement and force when picking up and moving parts of different sizes and shapes. Precision manipulation capability is important because the characteristics of parts and work methods differ for each production process.
In an internal demonstration last August, the robot showcased movements such as operating a camera to take photos and picking up cards. Samsung Electronics is developing methods such as the Tendon method, which moves fingers using cables like human tendons.
Samsung Electronics plans to utilize its own production facilities as a stage for verifying robotics technology. The strategy is to verify robots' work capabilities and reliability in various manufacturing processes, accumulate operational data, and enhance technological completeness.
The company envisions prioritizing the application of robots in manufacturing sites, then expanding their scope of use across industries, and ultimately extending the business to household and service sectors in the long term.
An industry official said, "The fact that Chairman Lee personally visited a robotics development site on the day of his fourth anniversary demonstrates the strategic importance of the robotics business within Samsung Electronics."
He added, "As the chairman directly oversees the status of technology development and commercialization preparations, it is expected that further momentum will be gained in securing core technologies and advancing the business."
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