LG acquires majority stake in Bear Robotics

Bear Robotics’ portfolio includes its Servi+ robots, pictured above, Servi, Servi mini, and Carti. | Source: Bear Robotics

LG Electronics USA Inc. today announced that it has secured a majority stake in Bear Robotics Inc., an autonomous service robot developer in Silicon Valley. LG said the acquisition aligns with its strategy to strengthen its presence in the robotics sector, a key growth area for the company.

“This additional investment underscores our dedication to positioning robots as a pivotal growth engine for the company, reflecting our belief in their inevitable role in the future,” stated Lee Sam-soo, chief strategy officer at LG Electronics. “We will persist in driving innovation across all sectors of robotics, encompassing commercial, industrial, and home applications.”

On Jan. 22, LG’s board of directors exercised a call option to acquire an additional 30% stake in Bear Robotics. This follows an initial investment of $60 million in March 2024. This investment secured LG a 21% stake and a call option agreement for up to an additional 30% stake. Upon completion of the call option exercise, LG will hold a 51% stake in Bear Robotics, effectively incorporating it as a subsidiary.

As part of this strategic move, LG’s commercial robot business, primarily centered around the LG CLOi service robots, will be integrated with Bear Robotics’ line. It said the key management team of Bear Robotics, including CEO John Ha, will remain in place to ensure stable business continuity and to focus on creating synergies in LG’s commercial robot business.

Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based LG Electronics is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a Seoul, South Korea-based $68 billion global developer of technology and manufacturing. In the U.S., LG sells a wide range of home appliances, entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems, and vehicle components.

Bear Robotics to boost home robot development

Founded in 2017, Bear Robotics said its indoor delivery robots cater to markets in the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. The Redwood City, Calif.-based company said it has expertise in distributed multi-robot control, remote fleet management systems, and artificial intelligence-powered systems.

LG aims to expand its presence in the commercial robot market through Bear Robotics. At the same time, the company intends to use its AI and manufacturing expertise to strengthen its home and industrial robot businesses.

The LG Home Appliance Solution Co. will spearhead the home robot segment. The division plans to focus on delivering a holistic experience in which home robots, powered by LG’s Affectionate Intelligence, can discern the well-being of family members and integrate with home appliances and services.

The company said it intends to create an integrated software platform for commercial, industrial, and home robots with Bear Robotics’ technology. LG said the platform will deliver a consistent and high-quality user experience across various applications.

By applying this integrated platform universally to the development of different types of robots, the company expects to shorten development cycles.

Q9 AI home hub combines technologies

LG Electronics said an illustration of its vision is the Self-driving AI Home Hub, or Project Q9, which is slated for release within the year. The robot harnesses multimodal sensing capabilities, encompassing voice, sound, and image recognition, coupled with autonomous driving technology.

These perception abilities enable Q9 to navigates obstacles such as carpets and uneven surfaces, identify users’ status, and respond to their needs by connecting to and controlling home appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Its display can convey emotions and foster enhanced interaction and engagement, the company said.

The Q9 also features Microsoft’s voice recognition and synthesis technology, enabling natural and intuitive conversations with users. To foster an open ecosystem, LG has also introduced a software development kit (SDK) for the Q9 to encourage the development of further capabilities.

“Robots are a certain future,” asserted William Cho, CEO of LG, at CES 2025. He suggested that the company might expand its focus beyond hospitality and logistics delivery robots to include the Self-driving AI Home Hub and other home robots to achieve “Zero-labor Home.”

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LG sets sights on industrial, commercial robots

In the realm of industrial robots, a cornerstone of LG’s Smart Factory business, the company said its Production Engineering Research Institute is spearheading substantial revenue growth through the integration of AI and digital transformation.

The Autonomous Vertical Articulated Robot uses cameras, radar, and lidar sensors to perceive its surroundings, navigate efficiently, and supply materials. LG said the robot can execute tasks such as assembly and defect inspection with its robotic arm. This integration enables automation across a range of operations, it claimed.

The company also said its advanced manufacturing capabilities and supply chain management expertise will help its robotics business be efficient and responsive to the market. LG added that its global sales network developed through its business-to-business (B2B) operations will facilitate broader product distribution.

By integrating commercial robots with a range of B2B systems, including hotel TVs, signage, and IT devices, LG said it can achieve a competitive edge through a turnkey order approach, delivering tailored products that meet the specific needs of corporate clients.

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