Next-gen robots are welding shipyards, roaming city streets in Korea

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has showcased how its research-backed startups are pioneering next-generation robots capable of operating in challenging environments such as shipyards and urban streets. DIDEN Robotics has developed the quadrupedal DIDEN 30 robot, equipped with magnetic feet to crawl on steel walls and ceilings, designed for high-risk tasks like welding and painting by 2026. They are also advancing a bipedal robot, DIDE Walker, for stable walking in complex industrial settings. DIDEN Robotics has partnered with major Korean shipbuilders including Samsung Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho to customize these robots, aiming to address labor shortages and enhance automation in shipbuilding. Meanwhile, Eurobotics is commercializing humanoid walking technology that enables robots to navigate indoor and outdoor industrial sites, including rough terrains, without relying on cameras or external sensors. Their humanoid robot uses a Blind Walking Controller, which allows it to "imagine" the ground and walk steadily on sidewalks, slopes,