The logo of the Samsung Electronics is seen at its office in Seoul on July 30.AP/YONHAP
Samsung Electronics is developing a humanoid robot that can work around the clock, potentially debuting at CES 2027 in Las Vegas next January, as the Korean tech giant accelerates efforts to catch up with global leaders in the robotics market.
Samsung's Robotics eXperience (RX) division, which oversees the company's robotics operations, is testing the performance of a robot designed to operate 24 hours a day in industrial settings at its Seoul research and development Campus in Umyeon-dong, Seocho District, southern Seoul, according to industry sources on Monday, reported by the JoongAng Ilbo.
The robot is learning to navigate its surroundings and perform repetitive tasks, such as transporting goods, in manufacturing and logistics environments.
The robot under development is reportedly a bipedal humanoid that moves on two legs.
"Employees from Samsung Electronics and its partner companies are monitoring the robot's operations around the clock in three shifts," an industry source said.
Samsung is reportedly considering several candidates, including the robot currently undergoing testing, for a possible showcase at CES 2027.
The ability to operate for extended periods has become a major area of competition in the global robotics industry. As humanoid robots move beyond demonstrations of walking and running to actual deployment in manufacturing and logistics facilities, their ability to work reliably for long periods without human intervention has emerged as a key benchmark for commercialization.
The goal is not necessarily to keep a robot running for 24 hours on a single charge but to maximize its uptime by enabling continuous operation.
One technology gaining traction is hot swapping, which allows batteries to be replaced without shutting down the system. By eliminating the need to reboot the robot after each battery change, the technology minimizes downtime.
With Samsung also targeting round-the-clock operation, 365 days a year, industry observers believe the company may adopt a similar power management system.
Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Hyundai Motor Group's robotics subsidiary Boston Dynamics, shows its movement in a YouTube video posted on Oct. 1.BOSTON DYNAMICS
Leading robotics companies have already brought such technologies close to commercialization.
Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary Boston Dynamics, can operate for approximately four hours under normal working conditions before autonomously replacing its battery. The process takes about three minutes, after which the robot resumes work.
Chinese robotics company UBTech has equipped its Walker S2 humanoid with an automated hot-swappable battery system. Using two batteries, the robot can replace its own battery in approximately three minutes, with the company promoting its ability to operate continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Samsung is also stepping up efforts to catch up in the robotics market through a broad strategy that combines organizational restructuring, recruitment of outside talent and in-house technology development.
In July, the company established the RX division under the direct supervision of CEO Roh Tae-moon, consolidating robotics hardware, software and management capabilities previously scattered across different parts of the company.
By placing everything from mid- to long-term strategy development to core technology research and commercialization under a single organization, Samsung aims to accelerate decision-making.
The company has also intensified its recruitment efforts by bringing in several vice president-level executives from major global technology companies to the RX division.
Samsung Research, meanwhile, has developed advanced robotic hand technology capable of grasping, assembling and connecting flexible objects such as electrical wires — tasks that require a high degree of precision and dexterity.
Samsung Electronics' flag in front of the company's Seocho office in southern Seoul on July 30YONHAP
Samsung's extensive manufacturing infrastructure across smartphones, semiconductors and home appliances could also give it an advantage in catching up with competitors.
By using its own factories as testing grounds, the company can rapidly accumulate real-world operational data and continuously refine its robots' performance.
Samsung intends to validate its robotics technologies in industrial environments before expanding into household and service robots capable of performing domestic chores and caregiving tasks, drawing on its existing home appliance operations.
Kris Hauser, head of the Robotics Lab at Samsung's RX division, acknowledged that the company may have entered the robotics market later than its competitors during the Samsung AI Forum 2026 held last month.
However, he emphasized that Samsung's management recognizes that developing profitable, general-purpose robots will be a long-term challenge and is taking a measured approach. He also expressed confidence in Samsung's ability to quickly close the gap with competitors and eventually overtake them, citing the company's track record of catching up from behind.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
