LG CNS, the IT services arm of South Korea's LG Group, launched its PhysicalWorks platform to train and manage mixed robot fleets through one unified software layer, according to The Korea Herald. At a demonstration, four robots from Unitree, Deep Robotics, Dexmate, and Bear Robotics moved boxes without remote control, completing one handoff over two to three meters in 90 seconds. The company said the system combines simulation and video training with software that reassigns work in real time, including the ability to switch equipment during emergencies—such as when it diverted a quadruped to patrol duty and reassigned its task to a Bear Robotics cart.
Platform Capabilities and Deployment
The PhysicalWorks system manages robots from different manufacturers through a single control layer, addressing a fragmented market where machines from separate vendors typically require custom engineering to work together. According to the source, this unified approach could make automation easier to adopt, allowing businesses to select the best robot for each job without being locked into one vendor ecosystem.
LG CNS reported that the platform can reduce robot deployment time from several months to approximately one to two months. The company is currently running over 20 proof-of-concept projects, with an executive noting that revenue generation may take one to two years.
LG CNS's Robot Software Foundation
The PhysicalWorks launch builds on LG CNS's four decades of experience as a systems integrator in the manufacturing sector. The company has spent 40 years constructing IT infrastructure for manufacturers, including expertise in linking legacy production software—an advantage the company views as relevant to modern robotics integration.
PhysicalWorks builds on existing LG CNS tools such as Real Time Dispatcher (RTD), which sets task priorities and logistics movement conditions in real time. RTD can also control logistics equipment including Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), which are driverless vehicles used to move materials in factories.
Artificial Intelligence and Adaptability
The platform incorporates a Robot Foundation Model (RFM) developed through LG CNS's partnership with Skild AI, a US startup building AI systems for robots. The RFM aims to make robots more adaptable by enabling them to learn from workplace photos and video data, then act autonomously instead of requiring task-specific development for each action or direct control at every step.
LG CNS's preparation for the launch included an 11-month development period, during which the company invested in Skild AI and acquired a stake in robotics firm Dexmate.
