Rainbow Robotics Trials RB-Y1 in Coupang Warehouse

Rainbow Robotics' mobile dual-arm robot RB-Y1 has been placed inside a Coupang fulfillment center for a live trial, reporting by The Korea Herald and ETNews says. Reporting indicates the test is evaluating how reliably the RB-Y1 can sort, transport, and handle goods in an operational e-commerce warehouse; The Korea Herald also reports that a larger order could follow if the robot passes the trial. None of Coupang, Samsung Electronics, or Rainbow Robotics has issued a public confirmation of the pilot, The Korea Herald notes.

Reporting by Interesting Engineering and The Korea Herald describes the RB-Y1 as a wheeled mobile base paired with a dual-arm upper body rather than a bipedal frame. The platform is reported to be about 1.4 meters tall, to weigh 131 kilograms, and to travel at up to 1.5 meters per second. Each arm reportedly offers seven degrees of freedom and a payload of roughly 3 kilograms. Interesting Engineering reports the platform uses a multi-axis whole-body control system and collision-avoidance software to coordinate arm motions during manipulation.

Mobile dual-arm manipulators combine elements of autonomous navigation, whole-body control, and compliant manipulation. Integration work for this class of robot typically centers on perception robustness in cluttered shelving, reliable grasping of varied SKUs under weight limits, and safe human-robot coexistence in mixed fleets - these are the engineering areas likely to dominate evaluation metrics during a live warehouse trial.

Rainbow Robotics is controlled by Samsung Electronics after Samsung increased its stake to 35 percent and made Rainbow a subsidiary in 2024 for 267 billion won, The Korea Herald reports. The Korea Herald also notes Coupang has invested more than $84 million in global AI startups since 2023 and reported an operating loss of $242 million in the first quarter, context provided while describing ongoing automation investments. Public reporting frames the RB-Y1 trial as the robot's first step onto a commercial warehouse floor, following earlier deployments at universities, research centers, and factory trials with Samsung and Toyota, The Korea Herald reports.

• •Operational throughput and accuracy metrics from the trial to judge pick-and-place viability for light SKUs.
• •Safety and human-robot interaction data, given regulatory pressure under South Korea's Serious Accidents Punishment Act as noted by The Korea Herald.
• •Commercial follow-ups such as supply agreements between Rainbow Robotics and logistics firms; The Korea Herald reports Rainbow is in talks with CJ Logistics.
• •Any public statements or technical demos that provide concrete performance numbers or pilot scope.