LG Electronics is aiming to enter the home humanoid robot market around 2030. After an initial industrial phase, the South Korean manufacturer wants to develop robots and household appliances designed for them at the same time.
LG Electronics outlined its humanoid robotics strategy during its third-quarter earnings presentation on 28 October. Lee Jae-mo, who heads the group’s robotics strategy, expects the market to reach a more advanced stage of development around 2030. Before targeting consumers, LG plans to gain experience with universities, public bodies and industrial companies.
Home appliances designed to make robots’ work easier
What sets LG’s strategy apart is that it treats the robot and its environment as a single design problem. The manufacturer wants to develop robots suited to household appliances, but also household appliances suited to robots.
This approach could make some household tasks easier by changing the equipment that humanoid robots have to interact with. Rather than relying solely on advances in robotic manipulation software, LG intends to draw on its experience in designing home appliances.
Lee Jae-mo also stressed the importance of reaching a price point that could persuade households to buy. The commercial goal therefore depends as much on the cost of future humanoid robots as on their ability to carry out useful tasks in a home.
LG’s robot data factory and actuator production plans
LG Electronics confirmed that its robotics data factory has partially started operations. The group is also preparing the infrastructure needed for mass production of actuators, the components that drive a robot’s movements.
According to the Financial Post, LG installed a pilot actuator production line in Changwon in the first half of the year. Production preparations, including equipment automation, are continuing in the second half.
The Seoul data factory is scheduled to become fully operational in the fourth quarter. LG is also working to secure orders from potential international customers.
A 500,000-hour training data target for LG robots
According to Popcorn News, LG is developing a system that combines data from real-world situations with simulation-generated data. The group aims to build up around 500,000 hours of robot training data.
Its collaboration with NVIDIA covers simulation, world models and robotics development platforms. These technologies are intended to help train and improve future systems.
LG plans to build its business gradually around several offerings: first, research hardware and actuators, then hardware and software packages tailored to different industrial sectors, along with data-based services.
Paid testing services for outside customers are also being considered in the longer term. For now, the priority remains improving the robots LG develops itself.
LG bipedal humanoid robot due to be unveiled in early 2027
Ahead of its home project, LG plans to unveil a next-generation bipedal humanoid robot in early 2027. The platform is set to be based on NVIDIA Isaac GR00T and Jetson Thor technologies.
This date refers to the announced presentation of a robotics platform, not to its sale to consumers. The planned expansion into homes around 2030 is a separate stage in the manufacturer’s strategy.
LG intends to develop its components, training capabilities and first professional applications before extending its business to home humanoid robots.