Bear Robotics acquires Kinisis Robotics to gain advanced humanoid hardware and AI manipulation technology for industrial expansion
The commercially focused robotics business, Bear Robotics, has announced that it will be the winning bidder to purchase Kinisis Robotics, a small UK based hardware and AI focused humanoid startup. A spokesperson from Bear Robotics states that the transaction should be concluded sometime in the next few days. It is likely that this is a strategic move for Bear Robotics as they diversify from primarily basic mobile delivery into more complex physical labor.
Bear Robotics, the commercial robotics division of LG Electronics has already introduced over 16000 of its robots in foreign markets. So far, they have been sold with a cloud based software platform using agentic multi robot orchestration, which enables swarms of machines to coordinate effectively and interact in highly dynamic surroundings without fixed pathways. Through the acquisition of Kinisis Robotics, the software platform can now be integrated with manipulation hardware.
The deal sees Bear Robotics gain ownership of the IP and physical assets originating from the London based startup. The technology comprises of the KR1 humanoid platform, created to grip, place, sort and transport various physical items, and associated manipulation artificial intelligence including Vision Language Action models and Robot Foundation Models, and the development of low cost gripper and glove technology to gather tactile training data.
The post acquisition corporate reorganization will introduce new leaders to spearhead the engineering efforts at Bear. Kinisis Robotics founder and former CEO Brennan Pierce will assume the role of Chief Robotics Officer at Bear; assuming this executive role, Pierce will be responsible for the continuing technical development of the KR1 humanoid platform, as well as integration of the acquired manipulation technologies.
Adding physical manipulation capability should enable Bear Robotics to deploy automation to broader industries beyond the hospitality and logistics clients it has currently. Ha Jung woo from Bear Robotics highlighted the significance of empowering their existing mobile fleet with active physical capabilities by himself:
"With this acquisition adding manipulation AI, we have evolved beyond mobility and delivery into robots that perform actual work."
Through combining the fleet coordination and direct physical manipulation, the company plans to pioneer a new class of multi task robots working hand in hand with human workers in industrial and commercial settings.
