Lotte Innovate said Thursday that its humanoid robot "Roi" appeared at the "2026 Lotte World Tower Sky Run," demonstrating the field application potential of physical artificial intelligence (AI).
The Lotte World Tower Sky Run is a vertical marathon hosted by Lotte Property & Development. Participants climb a total of 2,917 stairs to the 123rd floor (555 meters) of Lotte World Tower, and this year's event was held on Wednesday. Roi's appearance was designed to field-test Lotte Innovate's Robotics Transformation (RX) strategy and verify the real-world applicability of humanoid robots.
Roi also climbed the Lotte World Tower stairs directly on Tuesday, one day before the Sky Run event. Considering battery efficiency and safety, the robot climbed only a portion of the route rather than the entire course. While stair climbing is a familiar movement for humans, it is a highly demanding task for robots, requiring a high level of balance control and environmental awareness. Lotte Innovate carried out repeated reinforcement learning-based simulations and training, incorporating variables such as stair height and spacing to enable Roi to climb stairs stably.
Humanoid robots' stair-walking technology is expected to be utilized in industrial sites requiring inter-floor movement, such as logistics, delivery, and security. As physical AI technology advances, complex tasks such as carrying items with both hands while climbing up and down stairs are expected to become possible. This could be applied to automating patrols, inspections, and deliveries in high-rise buildings.
Roi also participated in major programs on the day of the event, drawing attention from spectators. Before the event began, the robot led a stretching program and performed at the starting line to encourage participants. At the awards ceremony, Roi handed out prizes and posed for commemorative photos, concluding the event.
