Diden Robotics has been included in Forbes Asia’s 100 To Watch 2026 in the robotics category, following the use of its physical AI robots in shipyard welding and inspection work.
The company, founded in 2024 by researchers from KAIST’s Humanoid Robot Research Center in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is developing walking robots for heavy industrial environments including shipbuilding and steel production.
Its development focus is on work areas that are difficult or hazardous for personnel to reach. In shipyards, these include vertical steel surfaces, overhead structures and confined spaces inside ship hulls. The robots are being developed not only for mobility but also to carry tools and support production tasks.
Diden Spider, the company’s quadrupedal robot, uses magnetic feet to travel across steel floors, walls and ceilings. Its mobility enables access to locations where welding and inspection have traditionally required scaffolding or aerial equipment.
Forbes reported that introducing Diden Spider into production processes can shorten work cycle times by 60–70%. The reported reduction comes from limiting the time needed to install and remove access equipment while allowing one robot to move between multiple work points on steel structures.
Commercial deployment has also begun. Diden Robotics has secured supply agreements with two domestic shipbuilders and one European customer.
The company said its first commercial delivery was made to a major domestic shipbuilder in December 2025. Its robots are now being used for welding and inspection operations at the site.
The company is also developing Diden Humanoid, a bipedal robot designed to continuously lift loads of up to 32 kg. Its intended role includes moving heavy tools and components and carrying out industrial work that requires coordinated use of arms and legs.
Forbes reported that mass production of Diden Spider is planned for 2027, with Diden Humanoid expected to follow in 2028. Diden Robotics also plans to use movement, welding and inspection data collected in shipyards for robot training and to extend the technology to other steel-structure sectors, including steel, plants and bridges.
The company has presented its physical AI systems at international technology events. In March, Diden Robotics participated in Amazon’s MARS 2026 conference as a Korean startup and demonstrated Diden Spider together with the bipedal Diden Walker.
Diden Spider was also shown climbing a steel wall in the opening video of the NVIDIA GTC 2026 keynote. The robot later appeared in NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote video at Computex 2026, while the company displayed its industrial physical AI technology at the NVIDIA Inception Pavilion.
Forbes Asia selected 100 startups and SMEs from 16 countries and regions for the 2026 edition of 100 To Watch. Nine Korean companies, including Diden Robotics, were included.
