POSCO DX, which develops digital transformation and AI solutions within the group, stated it has invested in US-based industrial humanoid robot company Persona AI.
According to POSCO DX, a USD 2 million investment was made in Persona AI, and a collaboration was agreed for joint robot development and field applications. This investment was made through the "POSCO DX Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) New Technology Investment Fund," financed by POSCO DX and POSCO Capital in the second half of the year. Additionally, an extra USD 1 million was provided through the "POSCO CVC Scaling Fund No. 1," financed by POSCO Capital. With this, the total investment across POSCO Group reached USD 3 million.
Founded in June 2024, Persona AI focuses on developing humanoid robots for high-intensity industrial facilities using heavy machinery. The company’s co-founders include CEO Nicolaus Radford, a former NASA robotics engineer, and Jerry Pratt, former CTO of US-based humanoid robot company Figure AI.
Persona AI’s robots rely on precise control systems derived from NASA’s robotic hand technology, enabling tasks ranging from delicate part assembly to heavy-load operations. The company also uses multi-axis tactile sensing and adaptive control technologies, allowing the robots to simultaneously manage force and position. With a Robot Fundamental Model (RFM)-based AI control algorithm, the robots can autonomously interact with their environment.
POSCO DX stated it aims to establish collaboration plans to develop humanoid robots capable of replacing high-risk manual processes in industrial facilities within POSCO Group. The company plans to integrate its industrial AI solutions with Persona AI’s robotic technologies. Previously, POSCO DX, in collaboration with POSCO, ran projects to control large-scale equipment such as cranes, conveyor belts, and unloading machines in steel plants without human intervention.
Meanwhile, a report by US-based investment bank Morgan Stanley emphasized that the global humanoid robot market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 63% and reach approximately USD 38 billion by 2035. The report stated that around 60% of the market will come from the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
POSCO Group is also expanding its corporate venture capital (CVC) structure to invest in innovative technologies and high-growth potential companies. The group plans to extend CVC activities from the existing POSCO Holdings framework to customized platforms for each subsidiary. In this context, in August, POSCO established the first CVC funds of 50 billion won each for POSCO, POSCO International, and POSCO DX.
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