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South Korea Challenges US and China with 'KAPEX' Humanoid Robot
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South Korea Unveils 'KAPEX' to Compete in Humanoid Race
In a direct challenge to the U.S. and China-dominated humanoid market, LG Electronics and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have announced the joint development of a next-generation humanoid robot named KAPEX. The project aims to create a "physical AI" platform capable of learning and adapting to its environment, moving beyond robots that simply mimic human motion.
The ambitious goal is to produce a commercially viable humanoid that can perform complex tasks and collaborate with people in both home and industrial settings. The partners plan to unveil initial results in November, focusing on mobility and hand manipulation, with a target for field demonstrations and commercialization within four years.
A Learning Robot with Human-Like Senses
KAPEX is being designed to be more than just a mobile machine. The project integrates three key pillars of LG Group's and KIST's expertise:
- Advanced Hardware: The robot will feature human-level physical capabilities, including a multi-finger hand with delicate tactile sensing, powered by domestically developed high-output actuators.
- Core Robotics AI: KIST is providing its foundational humanoid technology, which focuses on autonomous walking and navigating complex environments.
- A Powerful "Brain": LG AI Research is equipping KAPEX with its large-scale AI model, Exaone, to serve as the robot's cognitive engine, enabling vision-language understanding and reinforcement learning.
This combination is intended to create an "intelligent companion" that learns from experience rather than relying solely on pre-programmed instructions.
Here is the first official look at KAPEX, South Korea's ambitious entry into the global humanoid robotics race. Developed by LG Electronics and KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology), KAPEX is a foundational bet on "physical AI"—creating a machine that learns and
Shifting from Research to Product
Underscoring the seriousness of this commercial push, LG Electronics has established a new, dedicated robotics platform team within its Home Solution (HS) Business Division. In a significant organizational shift, top talent has been moved from central R&D labs into this product-focused unit, tasked with building the robust software "brain" required to make KAPEX a reality.
This move signals a clear pivot from pure research toward developing a market-ready product, leveraging LG's extensive experience in mass production and consumer electronics.
Part of a National Strategy
The KAPEX project is a cornerstone of South Korea's broader effort to become a global robotics leader. It directly aligns with the goals of the K-Humanoid Alliance, a government-backed initiative where LG is a key member.
The effort also leverages the full strength of the LG conglomerate. As we've previously reported, sister company LG Innotek is a critical hardware partner, producing advanced sensor modules not just for LG's projects but also for other industry leaders like Boston Dynamics for its Atlas humanoid.
By combining cutting-edge research from KIST with a commercially-focused development team and a national strategic vision, the KAPEX project represents South Korea's most integrated and determined effort yet to secure a leadership position in the future of robotics.
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