What FRT Robotics Co. does

FRT Robotics Co. is a South Korea-based wearable robotics company founded in 2015 that designs, manufactures, and sells industrial exoskeletons targeting musculoskeletal-disorder reduction in physically demanding workplaces. Its core product line centers on the StepUp NEO family — a passive back-support exoskeleton using high-output gas-spring actuation (no battery required, 3.6 kg, 120° hip joint range, three selectable assistance levels of 10/12/14 kgf), complemented by a planned powered-walking variant (StepUp Powered NEO) and an upper-body shoulder-assist unit (Passive Shoulder/EVO). The company complements hardware with on-site consulting services including EMG-based muscle fatigue testing, work-environment analysis, and customized fitting.

FRT Robotics generates revenue through a combination of one-time hardware sales to B2B and B2G customers and professional-services revenue from customized solutions and consulting (priced at 2.2 million KRW for the entry-level StepUp NEO, with multi-year contracts for customized deployments). Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales augmented by a Gangnam flagship showroom in Seoul, participation in major international trade shows (Hannover Messe, CES, MWC Barcelona, Dubai GITEX), and direct government procurement enabled by its designation as a Korean Procurement Innovation Product (조달혁신제품). Named reference customers span Korean public safety agencies (Korea Forest Service, National Fire Agency — 360 units combined), heavy industry (Samsung Heavy Industries), nursing-care facilities, agriculture, and logistics operators.

The company is positioning for a platform evolution beyond pure hardware by embedding sensors in its devices to collect human movement, load, and task data as the foundation for a Physical AI data platform aimed at future industrial-robot intelligence. It is venture-backed (cumulative disclosed funding of approximately 9.7 billion KRW, including a 16 billion KRW tranche from the Small and Medium Venture Business Corporation in February 2025 and a Medici Investment round in June 2025), operates a US subsidiary in San Francisco established in 2025, and has press references indicating IPO preparation. The company holds 39 patents and is led by founder-CEO Jang Jae-ho.

Name

FRT Robotics Co.

Legal name

주식회사 에프알티로보틱스

Website

https://frtrobotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FRT Robotics Co. is a South Korean wearable robotics company that designs and sells gas-spring and powered exoskeletons (StepUp NEO, Powered NEO, Passive Shoulder/EVO) to reduce musculoskeletal injuries for industrial, public-safety, healthcare, agricultural, and logistics workers, generating revenue through hardware sales and customized on-site consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wearable Industrial Exoskeletons

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Assistive Robotics (HDAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA), Robotics Safety, Certification & Compliance (HDAAAIAO)

Keywords

• Industrial exoskeletons
• Wearable robots
• Passive back support
• Shoulder exoskeleton
• Exoskeleton consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Gyeongsan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: One-time sale of wearable exoskeleton products including StepUp NEO (passive back support), StepUp Powered NEO (active back + walking assistance), and Passive Shoulder. Products are sold directly to B2B and B2G customers with customization options.
2. Consulting and Customization Services: On-site consulting services including work environment analysis, EMG-based muscle fatigue testing, customized product fitting and training, and hardware/software customization for specific industry needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FRT Robotics Co. designs, manufactures, and sells wearable robotic exoskeletons — primarily the StepUp NEO passive back-support exoskeleton (gas spring actuation, 3.6 kg, no battery, 10/12/14 kgf assistance levels) — along with on-site consulting, EMG-based muscle fatigue testing, and industry-specific customization for industrial, healthcare, public safety, and agricultural customers. The company is also building a Physical AI data platform that aggregates worker movement and load data from deployed exoskeletons.

Product overview

FRT Robotics Co. offers a portfolio of smart wearable robotic exoskeletons centered on the StepUp NEO platform. The core product line includes three main variants: (1) StepUp NEO - a passive back support exoskeleton using gas spring technology for waist muscle assistance; (2) StepUp Powered NEO - an active hybrid model combining back support with powered walking assistance via motor; and (3) Passive Shoulder (EVO) - an upper body exoskeleton for overhead work. The company also provides industrial consulting services for on-site implementation and customization solutions tailored to specific industry needs such as nursing care, heavy industry, logistics, and public safety sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StepUp NEO: Primary passive back-support wearable exoskeleton product line for industrial workers reducing lumbar fatigue by up to 43%
• StepUp Powered NEO
• EVO
• Passive Shoulder

Products and services

• StepUp NEO (Passive Back) Passive back-support exoskeleton using high-output gas spring actuation that reduces waist muscle fatigue by up to 43% and back muscle usage by ~25% without battery power. Features 3-level lifting power (10/12/14 kgf), 3.6 kg weight, and 120° hip joint mobility. Sold to industrial enterprises (manufacturing, logistics, construction, shipyard) and government agencies for repetitive lifting, transfer, packing, and loading/unloading tasks.
• StepUp Gen.4 Prior-generation passive back-support wearable exoskeleton that established FRT's footprint in Korean government procurement and industrial customers; received the Good Design Prime Minister's Award in 2022.
• On-Site Consulting Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Back muscle fatigue reduced by up to 43% during repetitive lifting tasks (20kg weight), verified via EMG testing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 동아대학교 대학원 재난관리학과 (Donga-A University Graduate School of Disaster Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed in July 2025 for disaster management research collaboration. FRT Robotics CEO Jang Jae-ho serves as adjunct professor. Partnership aims to develop wearable robot technologies for disaster response and cultivate talent in disaster management using robotics.
• 경남적십자사 (Gyeongnam Red Cross Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial contribution agreement signed in September 2025 for cultivating disaster management professionals. FRT Robotics and Woowa each donated 5 million KRW and 2 million KRW respectively to Donga-A University Graduate School of Disaster Management through Gyeongnam Red Cross.
• 주식회사 우아 (Woowa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signed social contribution agreement with Gyeongnam Red Cross and FRT Robotics. Woowa Chairman Jeong Young-hwa is also Gyeongnam Robot Industry Association President. Collaboration focused on disaster management professional cultivation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Comau: Italian industrial automation incumbent whose MATE wearable exoskeleton targets factory-line workers. Comparable product/application but Comau plays from a broader industrial robotics portfolio with deeper European OEM relationships.
• Honda Walking Assist: Honda's Walking Assist Device, developed from ASIMO-era robotics research. Competes in the lower-body wearable space while leveraging Honda's global manufacturing and distribution scale FRT cannot match.
• Ottobock: Global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeletons (incl. acquired SuitX). Deep regulatory and reimbursement expertise in mobility devices makes Ottobock the strategic incumbent FRT could either partner with or compete against.
• Lockheed Martin (FORTIS): Defense prime that developed the FORTIS industrial exoskeleton for shipyard and defense load-handling. Overlaps with FRT Robotics on heavy-industry use cases but plays in a much larger, defense-funded portfolio.

Direct peers

• Ekso Bionics: US exoskeleton company historically focused on medical (EksoGT) and now expanding into industrial (EvONE). Comparable product architecture and B2B sales motion through clinical and ergonomic channels.
• Angel Robotics: Korean developer of the HEXO wearable walking-assist robot for elderly and industrial users. Most direct domestic peer in Korea with overlapping IP filings, government relationships, and product positioning.
• Cyberdyne: Japan-based pioneer of wearable exoskeletons (HAL — Hybrid Assistive Limb) for industrial back/leg support and medical use. Closest direct competitor to FRT Robotics in passive/active wearable robots sold B2B across factories and care settings.
• Sarcos Robotics: US developer of the Guardian XO Max full-body powered industrial exoskeleton for material handling and defense. Closest Western analog to FRT Robotics' StepUp Powered NEO active hybrid positioning.
• SuitX (Ottobock): US industrial exoskeleton maker (MAX, BackX, ShoulderX) now owned by Ottobock. Competes head-to-head with FRT Robotics in modular back and shoulder wearables for industrial assembly, construction, and logistics.
• German Bionic: German maker of the Cray X connected back-support exoskeleton for industrial workers and logistics. Direct rival in the passive waist-assist category with a subscription/connected-service model FRT Robotics lacks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FRTROBOTICS
• Facebookfacebook.com/frtrobotics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frt-robotics
• Instagraminstagram.com/frtrobotics_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FRT Robotics Co.