{"id":95068,"date":"2026-02-19T20:36:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T23:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ces.einnews.com\/article\/893887345"},"modified":"2026-02-19T20:36:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T23:36:07","slug":"actuators-become-new-battleground-in-humanoid-robot-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/actuators-become-new-battleground-in-humanoid-robot-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Actuators become new battleground in humanoid robot race"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"An <\/span> <\/div>\n

An LG Cloid robot stands on stage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 5. [REUTERS\/YONHAP]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

 
Actuators, or the joints that dictate how precisely a robot can move, have become the new battleground in the race to build humanoid robots, pushing major Korean conglomerates to expand into a sector once dominated by smaller firms. 
 
The components, which combine motors, reducers, controllers and sensors, determine the extent \u2014 including the force, speed and angles \u2014 to which a robot can walk, grip objects and maintain its balance. They also account for 30 to 50 percent of a humanoid robot\u2019s manufacturing cost.
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Related Article<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

  
As humanoid robots grow more complex, they require more actuators. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last November that future units could each possess more than 50 actuators to become what he described as \u201cextremely complex\u201d structures. Tesla\u2019s Optimus, unveiled in 2022, uses 28 actuators. A next-generation version would likely nearly double that number.
 
 
Conglomerates accelerate push into actuator production <\/b>
 
Korean conglomerates are moving to secure a foothold.
 
LG Electronics, which introduced its humanoid robot Cloid at CES 2026 in January, launched a new robotics actuator brand called Axiom. The company is developing the products under its component solutions division, targeting a launch next year. 
 
LG Electronics plans not only to supply actuators for Cloid but also to secure orders from external clients, allowing the company to apply decades of motor durability design and mass production expertise.
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\"An <\/span> <\/div>\n

An LG Cloid robot folds laundry at the LG Electronics booth at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 6. [AP\/YONHAP] <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

  
Hyundai Mobis has already joined the supply chain by securing a contract to supply actuators for Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas and plans to mass-produce 30,000 units in 2028, leveraging its large-scale manufacturing experience and quality control capabilities. Boston Dynamics is an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group.
 
Samsung Electro-Mechanics has also entered the actuator sector by investing in Alva Industries, a Norwegian manufacturer of ultracompact high-performance electric motors, building on its precision component manufacturing expertise.
  
Large corporations have entered the actuator industry, which was previously led by small- and medium-sized enterprises and startups due to its profitability and growth potential.
 
  
High margins and rapid market growth <\/b>
 
Actuators account for 30 to 50 percent of the materials cost for humanoid robots, according to Interact Analysis, a Britain-based market research firm, but some industry observers place the figure near 60 percent.
  
The market is also expanding rapidly. Industry insiders expect global demand for humanoid robot actuators to rise from $150 million in 2024 to $9.86 billion in 2031 \u2014 an average annual growth rate of 80 percent. 
  
Meanwhile, geopolitical shifts may create opportunities for Korean firms. 
 
 
Supply chain realignment reshapes competition <\/b>
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The Trump administration is considering an executive order this year to tighten robotics industry regulations and reduce reliance on Chinese components, according to U.S. political online newspaper Politico. 
 
\u201cAs demand for humanoid robots surges while more companies call for supply chains that exclude China, a single-supplier system can no longer handle the volume,\u201d said Kang Sung-jin, an analyst at KB Securities. \u201cThere is a clear shift toward securing multiple suppliers at the same time.\u201d
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\"Boston <\/span> <\/div>\n

Boston Dynamics Atlas robots are displayed an the Hyundai Motor Group booth during CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 6. [REUTERS\/YONHAP] <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

 
But challenges remain. The Korea International Trade Association said in January that localization rates for robot materials and components in Korea remain in the 40 percent range. 
 
Prototypes of Hyundai Motor Group\u2019s Atlas and LG Electronics\u2019 Cloid, both of which were displayed at CES 2026, also used foreign-made actuators.
  
In the global actuator market, leading players include Harmonic Drive Systems and Nabtesco of Japan, Maxon of Switzerland and Wittenstein of Germany.
  
\u201cTo grow the domestic robot market, actuator companies must strengthen their own competitiveness and expand cooperation with robot manufacturers,\u201d said Kwon Myung-jun, an analyst at Yuanta Securities. <\/p>\n

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.<\/i>
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BY KIM SU-MIN [[email protected]<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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