Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) has begun pilot production of camera modules for humanoid robots at its manufacturing base in Vietnam, Maeil Business Newspaper reported, citing industry sources.
The modules are intended for the company's largest strategic customer in the US, which the newspaper did not identify. LG Innotek is separately in detailed talks with US humanoid robot startup Figure AI over a potential camera module supply deal, including volumes and pricing, the report said.
Neither company has publicly announced the reported supply arrangements.
Vietnam pilot targets second-half ramp
The Vietnam line is conducting quality stabilization and mass-production validation, with full-scale production expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
Semco had already entered the unnamed customer's humanoid camera module supply chain before beginning pilot output. The planned ramp would mark the company's first mass production of camera modules for humanoid robots, according to the report.
The company has been expanding its camera module business beyond smartphones into automotive, extended-reality and industrial applications.
Separately, CEO Chang Duck-hyun said at CES 2026 that Semco planned to begin mass production of camera modules, including products for humanoid robots, at its Mexico plant in the second half of 2026 after resuming construction of the facility.
Chang said the company was discussing the supply of camera modules, multilayer ceramic capacitors and flip-chip ball grid array substrates with humanoid robot developers. Semco was also cautiously considering entering the actuator market, he said, noting that a humanoid hand can require dozens of actuators.
The Korean report did not indicate whether the Vietnam pilot line and the Mexico production plan involve the same customers or manufacturing programs.
Semco identified humanoids as an emerging application for its optical solutions in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings materials. The company also outlined plans to secure next-generation technologies, including high-pixel sensing cameras and high-reliability actuators, for the physical AI market.
LG Innotek expands robotics partnerships
LG Innotek's reported discussions with Figure AI have not resulted in an announced supply agreement. Maeil also reported that the company invested US$8.5 million in Figure AI in February 2024 to establish a strategic relationship.
LG Innotek has announced several other initiatives aimed at extending its optical and sensing capabilities into robotics.
The company is jointly developing a vision-sensing system with Boston Dynamics for the next generation of the Atlas humanoid robot. LG Innotek is developing a module that combines RGB cameras with 3D sensing components, while Boston Dynamics is responsible for software that processes the visual data.
LG Innotek said the system would allow robots to combine information from multiple sensors and recognize their surroundings in conditions such as darkness or poor weather.
The company has also entered a three-year research partnership with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology covering optics, semiconductors, mobility and robotics. The work includes next-generation imaging devices, autonomous-driving sensors and control technologies for robot components.
A separate agreement with Kakao Mobility combines LG Innotek's camera, radar and lidar modules with the platform company's autonomous-driving software and data infrastructure. CEO Moon Hyuk-soo has said LG Innotek aims to become a leading physical AI sensing supplier across autonomous driving, robots and drones.
Figure demonstrates hourly production cycle
Figure AI said its BotQ manufacturing facility has delivered more than 350 third-generation Figure 03 robots and demonstrated the cycle time required to produce one robot per hour, compared with one per day previously.
The company said the production ramp required it to qualify hundreds of suppliers and improve manufacturing yields. It has produced more than 9,000 actuators across more than 10 actuator SKUs.
Figure also said its whole-body control model now uses images from cameras mounted on the robot's head to construct a three-dimensional representation of the surrounding terrain.
Goldman Sachs Research estimates that South Korean companies will account for 30% of global humanoid robot production by 2035 through direct manufacturing and the supply of critical components.
Korean supply chains may support approximately 74,000 humanoid robots in 2030 and 412,000 in 2035. Goldman Sachs cited South Korea's experience in electric motors, sensors, control units, actuators and precision engineering developed through its automotive industry.
The research firm also identified the shortage of physical AI training data as a major obstacle to broader humanoid deployment. Goldman Sachs analyst Do Hyoung Kim said US companies have strong software capabilities but need partners capable of executing the hardware side.
Article edited by Jack Wu
