Smaller and Smarter Humanoids Accelerate Entry Into Industry

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Humanoid robots equipped with human-like forms and artificial intelligence continue to evolve. Compared to existing models, they are becoming smaller and lighter, while their movements are growing smarter. As expectations for the widespread adoption of robots reach a fever pitch, ETF products investing in related companies are also gaining popularity. Reporter Lee Myung-jae has the story.

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As AI-integrated humanoid robots are being deployed in full force at industrial sites, they are emerging as a future growth engine, with fierce competition among companies to secure first-mover advantage.

Compared to conventional robots, they are shrinking in size and dropping in price, while their intelligence continues to rise. Through AI-based imitation learning, the movement of hands and arms has become as fast and flexible as that of humans, and precise control is now possible as well.

Currently, global players such as Boston Dynamics, Tesla, and Figure AI are leading the humanoid market. Domestic companies are also accelerating their push toward commercialization, with ROBROS and Rainbow Robotics drawing notable attention.

[Roh Seung-jun / CEO of ROBROS: "IGRIS-C has achieved a lighter build with a smaller size and reduced weight compared to existing robots. Thanks to its researcher-friendly design, it has been built to allow users to freely generate new motions and test locomotion inside indoor laboratories."]

The company has also laid out plans to increase humanoid-related investment, secure a stable revenue base, and prepare for an IPO sometime after next year.

As expectations for the humanoid market reach an all-time high, ETF products investing in related companies are drawing strong interest and the outlook remains bright. Representative products include those from Samsung Asset Management, Mirae Asset, and KB Asset Management.

Three-month returns are soaring into double digits, one-month returns have exceeded 6%, and on the back of these results, capital inflows have been sustained steadily.

[Lee Su-jin / Head of ETF Product Marketing, KB Asset Management: "We placed particular emphasis on concentrating pure-play companies in the portfolio — those expected to benefit most when robots are actually commercialized. Companies with unrivaled technological capabilities or high barriers to entry in the robotics space also carry a relatively high weight."]

Humanoid robots that can perform tasks in place of humans and are growing ever more intelligent — all eyes are on whether the commercialization and mass adoption of these products will bring about a true revolution.