Rainbow Robotics

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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]

What are Rainbow Robotics' origins at KAIST?

The HUBO program

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:

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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]

When was Rainbow Robotics founded?

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]

How did Rainbow Robotics win the DARPA Robotics Challenge?

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:

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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]

History

Transition to collaborative robots

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]

KOSDAQ listing (2021)

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]

How did Samsung acquire Rainbow Robotics?

Samsung Electronics' involvement with Rainbow Robotics unfolded across multiple phases:

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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]

U.S. expansion (2023)

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]

What products does Rainbow Robotics make?

Rainbow Robotics' product portfolio spans industrial cobots, mobile manipulators, autonomous mobile robots, quadruped robots, and specialized service robots.

RB Series collaborative 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]

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RB-N Series (NSF-certified cobots)

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:

• Special paint formulated to avoid emitting harmful substances
• Rust-resistant stainless steel (SUS) tightening parts and coupling rings rated for high temperature, high strength, and hygiene compliance
• IP66 rating enabling operation with hot oil, high-pressure steam, and greasy environments
• Applications include fryers, espresso machines, and other food preparation equipment^[19]

What is the RB-Y1 wheeled humanoid?

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]

Autonomous mobile robot (AMR)

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]

Quadruped robot

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]

Service and specialty robots

Rainbow Robotics has developed several specialized service robot platforms:

• Milk Tea Barista: A beverage-preparation robot jointly developed with ROBA ROBO, capable of fulfilling customer drink orders from an unmanned kiosk within 95 seconds using AI-driven robot control^[1]
• Cocktail robot: An automated cocktail mixing and serving platform
• Media service robot: A robot designed for media and entertainment applications
• Medical laser toning system: A robotic system for medical dermatology applications
• Astronomy mount systems: Precision mechanical mounts for astronomical telescopes and observation equipment^[1]

Technology

In-house actuator and component development

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]

Real-time operating system

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]

Whole-body control

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]

Software development kit

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]

How profitable is Rainbow Robotics?

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.

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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]

What is the Samsung Future Robotics Office?

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]

Role in South Korea's robotics ecosystem

K-Humanoid Alliance

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]

Conglomerate robotics rivalry

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]

Key personnel

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Timeline

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See also

• Humanoid robots
• HUBO
• Rainbow Robotics RB-Y1
• DARPA Robotics Challenge
• Collaborative robot
• K-Humanoid Alliance
• Boston Dynamics
• Samsung
• KAIST
• Humanoid robot market

References

1. Rainbow Robotics - Wikipedia ↩
2. The essential interview: Humanoid robot researcher Dr. Jun Ho Oh - The Robot Report ↩
3. Samsung Electronics To Become Largest Shareholder in Rainbow Robotics - Samsung Global Newsroom ↩
4. Samsung pays $181M to become largest shareholder of Rainbow Robotics - TechCrunch, December 2024 ↩
5. K-Humanoid Alliance - Wikipedia ↩
6. Oh Jun-ho - Founder of Rainbow Robotics - KOREA WHO ↩
7. The Pransky interview: Dr Jun Ho Oh, Professor and Director of Humanoid Robot Research Center, KAIST; Cofounder, Rainbow Robotics Co. - Emerald Insight ↩
8. HUBO - Wikipedia ↩
9. History of HUBO, Korean Humanoid Robot - Springer ↩
10. HUBO To The Rescue - Asian Scientist Magazine ↩
11. How South Korea's DRC-HUBO Robot Won the DARPA Robotics Challenge - IEEE Spectrum ↩
12. South Korea's Team KAIST wins 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge - New Atlas ↩
13. A Transformer Wins DARPA's $2 Million Robotics Challenge - MIT Technology Review ↩
14. Rainbow Robotics RB Series Collaborative Robots ↩
15. Rainbow Robotics (KOSDAQ:277810) Stock Overview - Stock Analysis ↩
16. KAIST robotics startups step into the real world - The Korea Herald ↩
17. Samsung increases stake in Rainbow Robotics, establishes Future Robotics Office - The Robot Report ↩
18. Samsung joins humanoid robots race with larger stake in Rainbow Robotics - KED Global, December 2024 ↩
19. Rainbow Robotics RB-N Series - World's First NSF-Certified Cobot ↩
20. Rainbow Robotics RB-Y1 Official Product Page ↩
21. Rainbow Robotics unveils RB-Y1, Korea's first bimanual mobile manipulator - PR Newswire, April 2024 ↩
22. RB-Y1 SDK - GitHub (RainbowRobotics/rby1-sdk) ↩
23. Rainbow Robotics to Unveil Next-Gen Humanoid Technologies at ICRA 2025 - PR Newswire ↩
24. Rainbow Robotics (KOSDAQ:277810) Revenue - Stock Analysis ↩
25. Rainbow Robotics (KOSDAQ:277810) Market Cap - Stock Analysis ↩
26. 'K-Humanoid Alliance' Launches to Lead Next-Gen Robotics Revolution - WOWTALE ↩