Bear Robotics’ portfolio contains its Servi+ robots, pictured above, Servi, Servi mini, and Carti. | Supply: Bear Robotics
LG Electronics USA Inc. right now introduced that it has secured a majority stake in Bear Robotics Inc., an autonomous service robotic developer in Silicon Valley. LG stated the acquisition aligns with its technique to strengthen its presence within the robotics sector, a key development space for the corporate.
“This extra funding underscores our dedication to positioning robots as a pivotal development engine for the corporate, reflecting our perception of their inevitable function sooner or later,” acknowledged Lee Sam-soo, chief technique officer at LG Electronics. “We are going to persist in driving innovation throughout all sectors of robotics, encompassing business, industrial, and residential purposes.”
On Jan. 22, LG’s board of administrators exercised a name possibility to amass a further 30% stake in Bear Robotics. This follows an preliminary funding of $60 million in March 2024. This funding secured LG a 21% stake and a name possibility settlement for as much as a further 30% stake. Upon completion of the decision possibility train, LG will maintain a 51% stake in Bear Robotics, successfully incorporating it as a subsidiary.
As a part of this strategic transfer, LG’s business robotic enterprise, primarily centered across the LG CLOi service robots, will probably be built-in with Bear Robotics’ line. It stated the important thing administration workforce of Bear Robotics, together with CEO John Ha, will stay in place to make sure steady enterprise continuity and to give attention to creating synergies in LG’s business robotic enterprise.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based LG Electronics is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a Seoul, South Korea-based $68 billion world developer of expertise and manufacturing. Within the U.S., LG sells a variety of residence home equipment, leisure merchandise, business shows, air con programs, and car elements.
Bear Robotics to spice up residence robotic growth
Based in 2017, Bear Robotics stated its indoor supply robots cater to markets within the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. The Redwood Metropolis, Calif.-based firm stated it has experience in distributed multi-robot management, distant fleet administration programs, and synthetic intelligence-powered programs.
LG goals to broaden its presence within the business robotic market by way of Bear Robotics. On the identical time, the corporate intends to make use of its AI and manufacturing experience to strengthen its residence and industrial robotic companies.
The LG Residence Equipment Answer Co. will spearhead the house robotic section. The division plans to give attention to delivering a holistic expertise during which residence robots, powered by LG’s Affectionate Intelligence, can discern the well-being of members of the family and combine with residence home equipment and providers.
The corporate stated it intends to create an built-in software program platform for business, industrial, and residential robots with Bear Robotics’ expertise. LG stated the platform will ship a constant and high-quality person expertise throughout numerous purposes.
By making use of this built-in platform universally to the event of various kinds of robots, the corporate expects to shorten growth cycles.
Q9 AI residence hub combines applied sciences
LG Electronics stated an illustration of its imaginative and prescient is the Self-driving AI Residence Hub, or Undertaking Q9, which is slated for launch inside the 12 months. The robotic harnesses multimodal sensing capabilities, encompassing voice, sound, and picture recognition, coupled with autonomous driving expertise.
These notion skills allow Q9 to navigates obstacles akin to carpets and uneven surfaces, establish customers’ standing, and reply to their wants by connecting to and controlling residence home equipment and Web of Issues (IoT) gadgets. Its show can convey feelings and foster enhanced interplay and engagement, the corporate stated.
The Q9 additionally options Microsoft’s voice recognition and synthesis expertise, enabling pure and intuitive conversations with customers. To foster an open ecosystem, LG has additionally launched a software program growth package (SDK) for the Q9 to encourage the event of additional capabilities.
“Robots are a sure future,” asserted William Cho, CEO of LG, at CES 2025. He instructed that the corporate would possibly broaden its focus past hospitality and logistics supply robots to incorporate the Self-driving AI Residence Hub and different residence robots to attain “Zero-labor Residence.”
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LG units sights on industrial, business robots
Within the realm of industrial robots, a cornerstone of LG’s Sensible Manufacturing unit enterprise, the corporate stated its Manufacturing Engineering Analysis Institute is spearheading substantial income development by way of the mixing of AI and digital transformation.
The Autonomous Vertical Articulated Robotic makes use of cameras, radar, and lidar sensors to understand its environment, navigate effectively, and provide supplies. LG stated the robotic can execute duties akin to meeting and defect inspection with its robotic arm. This integration allows automation throughout a variety of operations, it claimed.
The corporate additionally stated its superior manufacturing capabilities and provide chain administration experience will assist its robotics enterprise be environment friendly and attentive to the market. LG added that its world gross sales community developed by way of its business-to-business (B2B) operations will facilitate broader product distribution.
By integrating business robots with a variety of B2B programs, together with resort TVs, signage, and IT gadgets, LG stated it might probably obtain a aggressive edge by way of a turnkey order strategy, delivering tailor-made merchandise that meet the precise wants of company shoppers.
