Cho Han-jae, right, executive vice president and head of the strategic marketing team at Samsung SDI, poses with Vice President Hyun Dong-jin of Robotics LAB at Hyundai and Kia after signing a memorandum of understanding on collaboration for the development of robot-specific batteries at Hyundai Motor Group's research center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Samsung SDI
By Park Jae-hyuk
Samsung SDI has signed an agreement with Hyundai Motor and Kia to develop high-performance batteries for robots, aiming to improve energy density, output and usage time, the battery maker said Tuesday.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding at Hyundai Motor Group’s Uiwang R&D Center. Attendees included Cho Han-jae, executive vice president at Samsung SDI, and Hyun Dong-jin, vice president of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics Lab.
“We are expanding our collaboration with Hyundai Motor and Kia in the robot market,” Cho said. “Through this partnership, we will introduce differentiated technologies and high-quality products.”
Emphasizing the long-term vision, Hyun said, “We aim to enhance battery supply stability for robots and achieve price competitiveness through market expansion. By combining the Robotics Lab’s expertise with Samsung SDI’s battery technology, we will accelerate the development of competitive robot products.”
The partnership will focus on optimizing batteries for robots, addressing industry challenges where most robots rely on batteries designed for power tools or light electric vehicles. Due to the complex structures of robots, space for batteries is limited, and using smaller cells reduces output capacity.
Samsung SDI will develop high-capacity materials to improve energy efficiency and extend battery usage time, while Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics Lab will evaluate charge and discharge performance, usage time and lifespan.
Both companies aim to use this collaboration as a model for driving innovation in robot-specific battery technology.
English (United States) ·