Rainbow Robotics
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| Rainbow Robotics | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Korean name | 레인보우로보틱스 |
| Founded | February 10, 2011 |
| Founder | Oh Jun-ho (Professor, KAIST) |
| Headquarters | Daedeok Innopolis, Yuseong District, Daejeon, South Korea |
| Industry | Robotics, Collaborative robots, Humanoid robots |
| Products | Cobots, mobile manipulators, AMRs, quadruped robots, service robots |
| Parent | Samsung Electronics (35% stake, subsidiary since March 2025) |
| Traded as | KOSDAQ: 277810 |
| Market cap | ~11.76 trillion KRW (April 2026) |
| Revenue | 34.12 billion KRW (FY2025) |
| Employees | ~132 |
| Website | rainbow-robotics.com |
Rainbow Robotics (Korean: 레인보우로보틱스) is a South Korean robotics company that spun out of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2011, descends from the DRC-HUBO team that won the 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge, and became a Samsung Electronics subsidiary in March 2025 when Samsung raised its stake to 35 percent for a combined investment of about 353.8 billion KRW (roughly $240 million).[1][3][4] Headquartered in the Daedeok Innopolis science park in Daejeon and founded on February 10, 2011, the company develops and manufactures collaborative robots (cobots), humanoid robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), quadruped robots, and specialized service robots, designing its own actuators, encoders, brakes, and controllers in-house.[14]
Rainbow Robotics traces its origins to the KAIST Humanoid Robot Research Center, the laboratory that created HUBO, South Korea's first bipedal humanoid robot, and the DRC-HUBO that won the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals in 2015.[1][2] The company went public on the KOSDAQ exchange on February 3, 2021 (ticker 277810) and has since become one of South Korea's most prominent robotics firms by market capitalization, with a market value of approximately 11.76 trillion KRW as of April 2026.[15][25]
In December 2024, Samsung Electronics exercised a call option to increase its stake in Rainbow Robotics to 35 percent, becoming the largest shareholder. The acquisition, completed in March 2025 following regulatory approval, established Rainbow Robotics as a Samsung subsidiary and placed it at the center of Samsung's newly formed Future Robotics Office.[3][4] Rainbow Robotics is also a core member of the K-Humanoid Alliance, a national consortium launched in April 2025 by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to accelerate the country's humanoid robot industry.[5]
Rainbow Robotics' roots lie in the humanoid robotics program established at KAIST in 2000 by Professor Oh Jun-ho. Oh earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Yonsei University in 1977 and 1979, respectively, then worked as a researcher at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute before completing his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley in 1985 under Professor Masayoshi Tomizuka. He joined the KAIST Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty in 1985, where he has remained for his entire academic career, also serving as KAIST Vice President from 2013 to 2014.[6][7]
In 2000, Oh launched the Humanoid Robot Research Center at KAIST and began developing a series of increasingly capable bipedal robots. The development timeline proceeded through several generations:
| Designation | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| KHR-0 | 2001 | Biped walking legs only, no upper body; proof-of-concept locomotion platform |
| KHR-1 | 2003 | Headless humanoid with arms and legs; 21 degrees of freedom; focused on locomotion |
| KHR-2 | 2004 | First complete humanoid from the lab; 41 DOF; CCD cameras and inertia sensors |
| KHR-3 (HUBO) | January 2005 | Full humanoid; 125 cm tall, 55 kg; voice recognition, independent eye movement, dexterous hands |
| Albert HUBO | November 2005 | Android head (collaboration with Hanson Robotics) on HUBO walking frame; debuted at APEC Summit in Seoul |
| HUBO-2 | 2008-2009 | Slimmer design with aluminum endoskeleton and polycarbonate frame; 20% lighter than predecessors |
HUBO (KHR-3), released on January 6, 2005, was South Korea's first bipedal humanoid robot and attracted international attention. It could walk, recognize speech, move its eyes independently, and play rock-paper-scissors with its articulated hands.[8][9]
The impetus for commercialization came in 2010, when American universities and the Singapore government inquired about purchasing HUBO-2 robots from the KAIST lab. Handling production and international support was beyond the scope of an academic laboratory, so Professor Oh and a team of researchers from the Humanoid Robot Research Center founded Rainbow Robotics on February 10, 2011, in Daejeon's Daedeok Innopolis.[1][2]
The new company quickly fulfilled orders for the HUBO-2 Plus platform. By 2012, Rainbow Robotics had produced approximately 15 units, distributing them to research institutions in the United States, Japan, Singapore, and China. Notable early exports included six HUBO-2 units delivered to MIT in December 2011 (funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation) and two units shipped to Google in September 2013. In total, the company produced and delivered around 20 HUBO-2 robots worldwide during this period.[1][10]
The defining moment for both KAIST's robotics program and Rainbow Robotics came on June 6, 2015, when Team KAIST's DRC-HUBO won the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) Finals in Pomona, California. Led by Professor Oh, with co-leader Professor In-So Kweon of the Electrical Engineering Department and researchers from Rainbow Robotics, the team defeated 22 other robots from five countries and claimed the $2 million grand prize.[11][12]
The DRC-HUBO completed a perfect run, scoring the maximum 8 points and finishing all eight disaster-response tasks in 44 minutes and 28 seconds, the fastest time of any competitor.[11][12] The eight tasks were:
| Task | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Drive a vehicle | Operate a Polaris utility vehicle along a course |
| 2. Exit the vehicle | Egress from the driver's seat |
| 3. Open a door | Push open a door and walk through |
| 4. Turn a valve | Rotate an industrial valve |
| 5. Cut a hole | Use a power tool to drill through a wall panel |
| 6. Surprise task | Complete a previously unknown manipulation challenge |
| 7. Cross rubble | Traverse an uneven debris field |
| 8. Climb stairs | Ascend a flight of stairs |
The DRC-HUBO's critical advantage was its "transformer" capability. The robot could switch between bipedal walking and rolling on four wheels using wheels mounted in its knees. As MIT Technology Review put it, the robot "can transform into a rolling mode" by kneeling so that wheels on its knees and ankles propel it at relatively high speed, a design that "is faster than bipedal walking, and also minimizes the risk of falls."[13] This dual-mode locomotion proved both faster and more stable than pure bipedal walking, significantly reducing the falls that plagued many competing robots throughout the challenge. While other teams' robots frequently toppled over during transitions between tasks, the DRC-HUBO's ability to drop to its knees and drive smoothly between stations gave it a decisive speed and reliability advantage.[11][12][13]
The victory established KAIST and Rainbow Robotics as world-class leaders in humanoid robotics. Professor Oh received the 2016 Changjo Medal for Science and Technology and the 2016 Ho-Am Prize for Engineering in recognition of this achievement.[7]
Following the DRC victory, Rainbow Robotics pivoted from research humanoids to commercial collaborative robots. The company developed the RB series of six-axis cobots, leveraging the actuator, encoder, brake, and controller expertise gained from decades of humanoid robot development. This pivot provided a sustainable revenue stream and allowed the company to build manufacturing and quality assurance capabilities. The RB series cobots target industrial applications including welding, grinding, CNC machine tending, palletizing, and packaging, and they carry NRTL, CE, and KCs safety certifications verified by TUV SUD.[14]
Rainbow Robotics went public on the KOSDAQ exchange on February 3, 2021, trading under the ticker symbol 277810. The listing made Rainbow Robotics one of the first dedicated humanoid robotics lineage companies to trade publicly in South Korea. The IPO established a benchmark for South Korea's robotics startup ecosystem and demonstrated the commercial viability of university spin-offs in the robotics sector. KAIST has since been recognized as a "cradle of Korean robotics," with Rainbow Robotics' successful public listing paving the way for other KAIST-originated robotics startups, such as Angel Robotics (specializing in rehabilitation and medical robots), to attract investment.[15][16]
Samsung Electronics' involvement with Rainbow Robotics unfolded across multiple phases:
| Date | Event | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | Samsung acquires 14.7% stake | |
| December 30, 2024 | Samsung announces exercise of call option to increase stake to 35% | |
| March 5, 2025 | Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) approves the acquisition | N/A |
| March 12, 2025 | Samsung completes acquisition of additional 20.29% stake | N/A |
| March 2025 | Rainbow Robotics incorporated as Samsung subsidiary | N/A |
The combined investment totaled approximately 353.8 billion KRW (roughly $240 million USD), making Samsung the largest shareholder with a 35% stake.[3][4] In announcing the deal, a Samsung Electronics official said, "By becoming Rainbow Robotics' largest shareholder, we anticipate significant synergy in future robotics development. This partnership will ultimately contribute to the mutual growth and success of both companies."[3] As part of the expanded partnership, Samsung established a Future Robotics Office reporting directly to Samsung CEO Lee Jae-yong. Professor Oh Jun-ho, after stepping back from his role at Rainbow Robotics and retiring from KAIST, was appointed as an advisor to Samsung and head of the Future Robotics Office. The stated goal is to combine Samsung's artificial intelligence and software capabilities with Rainbow Robotics' hardware expertise to accelerate the development of intelligent humanoid robots.[3][4][17]
The acquisition placed Samsung in direct competition with Hyundai Motor Group, which acquired an 80% controlling stake in Boston Dynamics in December 2020. This rivalry between South Korea's two largest conglomerates has become a defining feature of the country's robotics strategy, with both companies investing heavily to establish leadership in the global humanoid robotics market.[18]
In 2023, Rainbow Robotics established a local corporation in Schaumburg, Illinois, with a dedicated collaborative robot sales and customer management team. A branch office was subsequently opened to support the company's growing North American customer base for its RB series cobot products.[1]
Rainbow Robotics' product portfolio spans industrial cobots, mobile manipulators, autonomous mobile robots, quadruped robots, and specialized service robots.
The RB series is Rainbow Robotics' core commercial product line. These six-axis collaborative robots are designed for safe human-robot collaboration in manufacturing and industrial settings. Rainbow Robotics develops all essential cobot components in-house, including actuators, encoders, brakes, and controllers. The robots run on a proprietary Linux-based real-time operating system and are controlled through Android-based tablets, with Windows operation also supported.[14]
All RB series cobots feature IP66 dust and water resistance ratings, making them suitable for environments with cutting oil, coolant, and other industrial fluids. Safety functions include collision detection, gravity compensation, and sophisticated motor control systems. The icon-based GUI (RB COBOT GUI) allows operators to configure and program the robots without specialized coding skills.[14]
| Model | Payload | Reach | Weight | Repeatability | Primary Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB3-730 | 3 kg | 730 mm | ~11 kg | +/-0.05 mm | Welding, gluing, precision assembly |
| RB3-1200 | 3 kg | 1,200 mm | 22.4 kg | +/-0.05 mm | Extended-reach applications; largest working radius among small-load cobots |
| RB5-850 | 5 kg | 927.7 mm | 22 kg | +/-0.05 mm | General manufacturing, assembly, food and beverage automation |
| RB10-1300 | 10 kg | 1,300 mm | 37 kg | +/-0.05 mm | Machine tending, palletizing, packaging |
| RB16-900 | 16 kg | 900 mm | 32 kg | +/-0.05 mm | Heavy-load applications, courier transport, palletizing |
| RB20-1900 | 20 kg | 1,900 mm | 75 kg | +/-0.05 mm | Top-tier model; maximum payload and reach in the series |
The RB-N series represents the world's first NSF-certified collaborative robots, specifically engineered for the food and beverage industry. The NSF certification guarantees that the robots meet strict safety and hygiene standards for food-contact environments. The series includes three models: RB3-1200N, RB5-850N, and RB10-1300N.[19]
Key food-industry-specific features include:
The RB-Y1 is a dual-arm mobile manipulator, described by Rainbow Robotics as Korea's first bimanual mobile manipulator, that combines a humanoid upper body with a wheeled mobile base.[21] Unveiled in March 2024 at the Smart Factory Automation Industry Exhibition in South Korea, the RB-Y1 features two 7-degree-of-freedom (DOF) arms (each able to lift about 3 kg), a 6-DOF torso/leg mechanism with over 50 cm of vertical height adjustment, and 24 total degrees of freedom. The platform measures 600 x 690 x 1,400 mm, weighs 131 kg, and can travel at speeds up to 2.5 m/s.[20][21]
The RB-Y1 is offered in two configurations: a research platform priced at $80,000 USD and a commercial platform at $120,000 USD. Pre-orders opened in May 2024, with deliveries beginning in October 2024. Early adopters include MIT, UC Berkeley, the University of Washington, and Georgia Tech. An open-source SDK supporting Python and C++ is available on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license.[21][22]
At ICRA 2025 (May 2025, Atlanta), Rainbow Robotics showcased several RB-Y1 enhancements, including a Mecanum Wheel System for 360-degree omnidirectional movement, new control interfaces (touchpad/joystick, VR-based teleoperation, and an enhanced master arm system), and an integrated SDK supporting IMU, gripper, and LiDAR modules.[23]
Rainbow Robotics produces an autonomous mobile robot that uses the company's grid-free SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology for autonomous navigation. The AMR can recognize its own location and navigate without pre-installed grids or tracks.[1]
The company offers a versatile four-legged robot platform designed for research, patrol, and search-and-rescue missions. The quadruped robot leverages the walking and balance control expertise developed through decades of HUBO humanoid research.[1]
Rainbow Robotics has developed several specialized service robot platforms:
Rainbow Robotics' technical foundation rests on its ability to develop critical robot components internally. The company designs and manufactures its own actuators, encoders, brakes, and controllers for both its cobot and humanoid robot product lines. The electric actuators and harmonic drive reducers used in the RB-Y1's arms are the same industrial-grade components deployed in the RB series cobots, ensuring that manipulation precision and durability are validated through years of industrial use before being applied to new platforms.[14][20]
The RB series cobots run on a custom Linux-based real-time operating system developed by Rainbow Robotics. This proprietary OS provides deterministic control timing necessary for industrial applications, while supporting the Android-based tablet interface used for programming and operation.[14]
The RB-Y1 mobile manipulator employs a 20-axis whole-body control system (two 7-DOF arms plus a 6-DOF torso) that manages gravity compensation and ensures safe, coordinated movement across all upper-body joints simultaneously. This control architecture enables smooth, high-speed turns and rapid acceleration without losing balance on the wheeled platform.[20]
The RB-Y1 SDK, released under the Apache 2.0 license and available on GitHub (RainbowRobotics/rby1-sdk), supports both Python and C++ interfaces. Cross-platform serialization is handled through Protocol Buffers. The SDK provides joint position, velocity, and impedance control; Cartesian space control; gravity compensation mode; SE2 velocity commands for mobile base navigation; real-time command streaming; and gripper integration utilities.[22]
Rainbow Robotics has demonstrated consistent revenue growth since its KOSDAQ listing, driven primarily by its collaborative robot business, though it has not yet achieved consistent profitability.
| Fiscal Year | Revenue (KRW) | Year-over-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.4 billion | N/A |
| 2021 | 8.97 billion | 65.3% |
| 2022 | 13.62 billion | 51.8% |
| 2023 | 15.26 billion | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 19.35 billion | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 34.12 billion | 76.4% |
As of April 2026, Rainbow Robotics' market capitalization stands at approximately 11.76 trillion KRW, with a price-to-sales ratio of approximately 335. The company maintains a strong balance sheet, holding roughly 85.6 billion KRW in cash and short-term investments against negligible total debt of approximately 228.9 million KRW. However, Rainbow Robotics has not yet achieved consistent profitability, as it continues to invest heavily in research and development for next-generation robot platforms.[24][25]
Samsung's establishment of the Future Robotics Office in late 2024, concurrent with its increased investment in Rainbow Robotics, represents a strategic commitment to the humanoid robotics market. The office reports directly to Samsung Electronics CEO Lee Jae-yong and is headed by Professor Oh Jun-ho in an advisory capacity.[3][4]
The strategic rationale behind the Samsung partnership centers on combining complementary strengths. Samsung brings artificial intelligence algorithms, semiconductor design capabilities, large-scale manufacturing expertise, and global distribution networks. Rainbow Robotics contributes decades of humanoid robot engineering experience, proven cobot products, proprietary actuator technology, and the RB-Y1 mobile manipulator platform. Samsung has stated its intent to deploy Rainbow Robotics' collaborative robots, dual-arm mobile manipulators, and autonomous mobile robots for manufacturing and logistics automation tasks within Samsung's own facilities, with plans to enhance these robots' capabilities using AI algorithms for situational data analysis and environmental adaptation.[4]
Rainbow Robotics is a core member of the K-Humanoid Alliance, a national robotics consortium launched on April 10, 2025, at a ceremony held at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. The alliance was established by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) to coordinate the country's humanoid robot development efforts. Approximately 40 major companies and universities signed a cooperation agreement at the launch event, which was attended by Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Seoul National University President Yoo Hong-rim.[5][26]
Other K-Humanoid Alliance members include Doosan Robotics, HD Hyundai Robotics, Robotis, Angel Robotics, Neuromeka, Samsung SDI, SK On, LG Energy Solution, Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei University, and Korea University, among others. Through this initiative, the South Korean government plans to invest over approximately 1 trillion KRW ($770 million USD) by 2030 to support humanoid robot development.[5][26]
The alliance's primary objective is to develop a common robot AI foundation model by 2028 that can be shared across robot manufacturers. Target specifications for commercial humanoid robots include the ability to lift 20 kg or more, weigh under 60 kg, feature 50 or more joints, and move at speeds of 2.5 m/s or faster.[5]
Rainbow Robotics sits at the center of a broader strategic competition among South Korea's largest conglomerates for leadership in the global robotics market. Samsung's investment in Rainbow Robotics directly parallels Hyundai Motor Group's $1.1 billion acquisition of an 80% stake in Boston Dynamics in December 2020. Other major Korean technology companies have entered the robotics space as well: LG Electronics has developed its own robot products including the CLOi service platform, and Naver has invested in robotics through its Naver Labs subsidiary, which developed the AMBIDEX dual-arm robot.[16][18]
KAIST continues to serve as a primary incubator for South Korean robotics startups. Multiple companies founded by KAIST alumni and faculty have attracted significant investment and are pursuing commercialization across different robotics segments, from rehabilitation exoskeletons (Angel Robotics) to industrial automation (Rainbow Robotics) to quadruped platforms.[16]
| Name | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Oh Jun-ho | Founder; Advisor to Samsung; Head of Future Robotics Office | Ph.D., UC Berkeley (1985); KAIST Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1985-2024); KAIST Vice President (2013-2014); led Team KAIST to DRC victory (2015); nicknamed "Father of HUBO" |
| Lee Junho | Co-founder | KAIST colleague of Oh Jun-ho; co-founded the company in 2011 |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Professor Oh Jun-ho establishes the Humanoid Robot Research Center at KAIST |
| 2001 | KHR-0 biped walking legs completed |
| 2003 | KHR-1 humanoid prototype finished |
| 2004 | KHR-2, the lab's first complete humanoid, developed |
| January 2005 | KHR-3 (HUBO) released, South Korea's first bipedal humanoid robot |
| November 2005 | Albert HUBO android debuted at APEC Summit |
| 2010 | International purchase inquiries for HUBO-2 prompt commercialization plans |
| February 2011 | Rainbow Robotics founded as a KAIST spin-off |
| December 2011 | Six HUBO-2 units delivered to MIT |
| 2012 | Approximately 15 HUBO-2 Plus units produced |
| September 2013 | Two HUBO-2 units shipped to Google |
| June 2015 | DRC-HUBO wins the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals ($2 million prize) |
| February 2021 | Rainbow Robotics listed on KOSDAQ (ticker: 277810) |
| January 2023 | Samsung acquires 14.7% stake (~86.8 billion KRW) |
| 2023 | U.S. subsidiary established in Schaumburg, Illinois |
| March 2024 | RB-Y1 mobile manipulator unveiled |
| May 2024 | RB-Y1 pre-orders open at $80,000 (research) / $120,000 (commercial) |
| October 2024 | RB-Y1 deliveries begin |
| December 2024 | Samsung announces exercise of call option for 35% total stake (~267 billion KRW additional) |
| March 2025 | KFTC approves Samsung acquisition; Rainbow Robotics becomes Samsung subsidiary |
| April 2025 | K-Humanoid Alliance launched with Rainbow Robotics as core member |
| May 2025 | RB-Y1 enhancements showcased at ICRA 2025 in Atlanta |