Raion Robotics, a South Korean startup specializing in pedestrian robot manufacturing, announced on April 3 that it has secured seed investment from Company K Partners and FuturePlay. The exact amount of the investment remains undisclosed.
Founded by a team including Professor Hwangbo Je-min from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Raion Robotics boasts over a decade of expertise in robot design and pedestrian control.
The company has recently developed the next-generation quadruped pedestrian robot, Raibo2. Equipped with artificial intelligence, Raibo2 autonomously analyzes the terrain it traverses, enabling steady movement across various irregular terrains such as steep slopes, rocky and stair-laden areas, snowy, and sandy patches.
Raion Robotics also focuses on internally developing robot components, which has enabled it to extend battery life up to 8 hours. The company explains that its robots hold potential for a wide range of applications, including surveillance, disaster relief, and exploration. Traditional commercial quadruped robots have been limited by short battery life of 1 to 2.5 hours, hindering their practical usability.
Leveraging its technological prowess, Raion Robotics is actively seeking business opportunities in promising sectors such as defense, construction, and logistics.
Hwangbo Je-min, CEO of Raion Robotics, expressed optimism about the future prospects of unmanned automation solutions, stating, “With the decline in population leading to labor shortages and the increasing risks associated with accessing hazardous areas, the demand for unmanned automation solutions is on the rise.” He added, “With this investment, we aim to accelerate product development and solidify our position as a global leader in the field of quadruped pedestrian robots.”
