LG develops humanoid robot with NVIDIA Isaac GR00T for 2027 debut

LG is developing a bipedal humanoid robot powered by NVIDIA’s Isaac GR00T foundation model, aiming for an initial public unveiling in the first quarter of 2027. To handle onboard computing, reasoning, and control, the machine will incorporate the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform alongside Isaac GR00T and NVIDIA Halos for Robotics, which serves as a specialised safety system for robotic applications. The initiative will draw hardware and expertise from across the wider group, integrating advanced actuators, sensors, and batteries supplied by LG Electronics, LG Innotek, and LG Energy Solution.

This development forms part of an expanding collaboration between the two companies spanning robotics, artificial intelligence computing infrastructure, and vehicle systems. The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed on 13 August at NVIDIA’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, with LG Chairman and CEO Kwang Mo Koo and NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang in attendance.

LG will test robots on a production line

Ahead of the humanoid debut, LG plans to deploy its wheel-based LG CLOiD robot at an LG Electronics washing machine manufacturing line in Tennessee this year. This factory trial will provide an active operational setting to test, evaluate, and refine the unit under real-world industrial conditions. Based on the findings, the company intends to consider broader rollouts across its manufacturing facilities globally, while also exploring future deployments in commercial spaces and homes.

Alongside practical testing, LG and NVIDIA are building dedicated infrastructure to collect and process the vast amounts of information required to train complex robotic models. The group’s robot data platform, LG CNS PhysicalWorks, will manage on-site data collection, synthetic data generation, simulation training, and system verification. Insights gained on the factory floor will feed directly into the development of LG’s proprietary Robot Foundation Model, allowing the enterprise to advance its internal software capabilities while concurrently applying NVIDIA Isaac GR00T across its robotics work. A joint task force featuring technical and business specialists from both organisations will coordinate ongoing research, operational trials, and commercialisation efforts.

AI factory plans extend into 2028

Beyond robotics hardware, the agreement encompasses the underlying infrastructure required to build and train artificial intelligence systems and robotic models. In the first half of 2027, LG plans to construct an AI factory reference site featuring NVIDIA’s DSX architecture and Vera Rubin platform, pairing NVIDIA’s computing power with LG’s operational background in data centre design, power delivery, and thermal management.

Building on this foundation, LG will establish an 80 MW LG AI Factory in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, scheduled for completion in the first half of 2028. This dedicated facility will support physical AI research alongside ongoing work on robot foundation models. These benchmark developments will ultimately assist LG in creating packaged AI infrastructure offerings covering design, construction, and operational management for global technology customers.

Vehicle project uses NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion

The third pillar of the agreement centres on automotive computing and software architecture. LG aims to engineer a high-performance computing platform for AI-defined vehicles built on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion, merging NVIDIA’s autonomous driving and vehicle computing systems with LG’s automotive software and in-vehicle infotainment suites.

This initiative enables LG to expand its established vehicle component capabilities into autonomous navigation while integrating intelligent AI services throughout the vehicle cabin. The completed suite of automotive technologies will be offered directly to global car manufacturers.