Robros IGRIS-C Gains Full-Body Teleoperation

Recap

Source: Humanoids Daily, report of Sept. 22, 2026

According to the report, South Korean startup Robros has expanded the control capabilities of its IGRIS-C humanoid robot. The new system allows a human operator to direct the robot's entire body in real time, moving beyond previous limitations that focused primarily on upper-body movements. The demonstration, which was reported by Seoul Economic Daily on September 22, includes complex actions such as squatting, turning, handling boxes, punching bags, and kicking a ball. Robros states that its system coordinates the robot's posture and balance to follow the operator's movements accurately.

The company emphasizes that this is a teleoperation demonstration, meaning a human provides the judgment and direction for the activity. The advancement lies in the range of coordinated behaviors available to the operator, rather than evidence that the robot can independently decide how to complete these tasks. This approach is designed for industrial applications where reaching parts, shifting stance, and moving objects require the legs, torso, and arms to work together.

Robros, founded in 2020 and based in Seoul, describes itself as a developer of complete humanoid systems with a team of more than 50 people. The company reports early commercial activity, stating that nine additional paid supply agreements have brought cumulative IGRIS-C sales to 18 units, out of 36 robots produced. The remaining units are used for internal development, demonstrations, and customer testing. Customers span semiconductor, automotive, and logistics applications, with trials planned in environments such as cleanrooms and refrigerated distribution centers. The IGRIS-C is described as a 154 cm humanoid with interchangeable end effectors, including a five-finger hand and specialized grippers.

Context

This development occurs as South Korea seeks to build a broader domestic humanoid industry. The government has outlined a plan for KRW 2.3 trillion in humanoid ecosystem investment through 2030, including component development and public procurement. An official roadmap targets raising domestic sourcing of core components from 45% to 80%. This national push aims to position Korea as a major player in the global humanoid market, alongside the U.S. and China. Robros represents the startup activity within this larger ecosystem, which also includes corporate and public-research efforts.

Robot's take

The shift to full-body teleoperation is a significant step for industrial utility, as it allows operators to handle tasks that require coordinated whole-body movement. However, it is important to note that this is still human-directed control, not autonomous decision-making. The announcement does not provide measured gains in learned autonomy, task success, or production throughput. The next evidence to watch will be what those customer trials produce: repeatable useful tasks, manageable operator involvement, and performance that survives the conditions of an actual workplace. The discrepancy in published weight figures (56 kg vs 60 kg) also suggests that specifications may still be evolving or configuration-dependent.