South Korea Aims for Mass Production of Domestic Robot Actuators by 2029

The South Korean government is targeting mass production of domestic robot actuators by 2029, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign components, which currently account for nearly 80% of the market. The initiative includes developing batteries that enable humanoid robots to operate for eight hours and sensor technologies that analyze information directly.

On November 11, the government announced its "New Project Plan for Leading the Super Innovation Economy" during an economic council meeting. This plan outlines research and development schedules for three key projects added to the second half of the economic growth strategy in July: next-generation sensors, actuators, and secondary batteries for humanoids.

The government will prioritize the localization of robot actuators, which are essential components that enable movement in robot arms, legs, and fingers. Each humanoid robot typically requires 20 to 50 actuators, which account for 60% to 70% of production costs. Currently, the localization rate for domestic robot actuators stands at just 19.7%, significantly lower than the overall localization rate of 44.9% for robot components in 2023.

From next year until 2029, the government plans to invest a total of 100 billion won (approximately $84 million) in developing core robot components, with 30 billion won allocated in the upcoming budget. The initiative aims to create lightweight yet powerful actuators capable of withstanding repetitive motions and to support automotive parts manufacturers in entering the robot parts market.

Developed components will be tested for durability, accuracy, and safety in real manufacturing environments. Domestic robot companies currently rely on foreign parts due to concerns over reliability and cost, so the government aims to increase the adoption of domestic components. The budget for testing next year is expected to be around 3 billion won. From 2028, the government will establish prototype production and testing facilities, with mass production investments supported by the National Growth Fund. The goal is to achieve an 80% localization rate for core robot components by 2030.

In the sensor sector, the government will support the development of "on-sensor AI," which analyzes information directly at the sensor level rather than sending it to a server or device for processing. This approach is expected to reduce power consumption and transmission delays associated with data movement.

From next year through 2030, the government will invest 49.8 billion won (approximately $42 million) in developing core technologies for on-sensor AI for robotics, defense, and mobility applications, with 9 billion won earmarked for next year's budget. The plan includes creating modules that integrate sensors, signal processing circuits, and AI semiconductors, which will be tested by companies using them.

Additionally, the government will support manufacturing processes to enable small fabless companies to produce prototypes without needing expensive equipment. The domestic sensor industry is facing a decline in revenue, projected to drop from 57 trillion won in 2022 to 51 trillion won in 2024, highlighting the need for a shift toward high-value products.

For humanoid batteries, the government aims for commercialization by 2030. The focus will be on developing battery systems that can sustain continuous operation for eight hours in industrial settings or be easily replaced. These batteries must provide high output for lifting heavy objects and maintaining balance while controlling heat during rapid charging and discharging.

The upcoming budget includes 5.7 billion won for eight projects aimed at enhancing the performance of existing commercial batteries and 7.6 billion won for ten projects related to solid-state batteries and standard development. Standard development will begin next year, with material and cell development planned for 2028 and testing set for 2029. The government intends to involve robot companies in the entire development process, from materials to cells, packs, and battery management systems, to ensure products meet real-world usage conditions.