◇CES 2025, with the theme "Dive In," focuses on "AI and Healthcare" as the key topics.
 

[BioTimes] The theme of CES 2025 is "Dive In," carrying the message of connecting through technology (Connect), solving problems (Solve), and discovering new possibilities (Discover).

Following last year, AI remains the core technology theme of CES. As AI continues to impact and expand across all industry ecosystems, "AI technology integration" is expected to be the biggest topic. While last year's focus was on finding global solutions through technology, CES 2025 will likely focus on redefining the future by combining sustainability and innovation.

This year’s CES will feature new sectors such as industrial equipment and machinery, beauty, personal care, fashion technology, and pet and animal welfare technologies, offering a glimpse into how technologies like AI are deeply integrated into everyday life. The key focus will be on how advanced AI provides "personalized" experiences tailored to the unique characteristics of each user.

In particular, AI-based personalized health management technologies are expected to showcase innovative applications across various areas, including big data and user-centered services.

Solutions that analyze complex patterns and predict or diagnose users' health conditions and potential disease risks based on the data obtained, along with the advancement of technologies in personalized healthcare, telemedicine, and wearable devices, are expected to play a larger role in improving patient treatment accessibility and daily convenience.

◇Korean companies have achieved significant results in the areas of human security and K-robotics.
 

Human security was newly added as an evaluation category for the CES Innovation Awards this year. It encompasses the concept that humans must be protected from threats that could arise in various areas such as economy and culture. The European Union (UN) emphasized its importance by adding the human security field to the advanced technology security sector during the UN General Assembly last year.

Domestic companies account for 86% of the products awarded the CES 2025 Human Security Innovation Award. Companies such as D&C Biotechnology, E-Soltec, and Cobotsystems have garnered global attention with their solutions in areas like infectious diseases, disabilities, and health diagnostics.
 

D&C Biotechnology won the Human Security Innovation Award at CES 2025 for its urine diagnostic solution, 'Urine Check-ER'. This product allows users to easily conduct urine tests at home. It provides precise diagnostics, disease detection, connections to medical institutions, and telemedicine services, all of which contribute to maintaining a safe and healthy life, earning it positive recognition.
 

E-Soltec presents the 'Modular Chamber,' which can be quickly expanded and deployed during disasters and emergencies. The Modular Chamber has received high praise for its potential to contribute to enhancing human safety and health welfare, particularly in combating infectious diseases.

The Modular Chamber is a product that utilizes renewable energy and is designed to effectively expel droplets (viruses) generated by patients in the specimen collection area (contaminated zone), while maintaining appropriate air circulation. After testing, it was confirmed that no cross-contamination occurred between the specimen collection area and the medical examination area (clean zone), ensuring safety and preventing contamination.
 

Cobot Systems is a company specialized in obstacle-crossing technology, going beyond just wheel production. The company developed a versatile wheel applicable to both robots and wheelchairs. Cobot Systems' self-developed wheel, the "Miracle Wheel," excels in obstacle-crossing performance while also offering superior economic efficiency compared to conventional wheels.

The product, "Trailblazing Wheelchair," equipped with this technology, can overcome obstacles as high as 5 cm and has been praised as the most efficient product for protecting the mobility rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

Kobot Systems' wheel technology is focused on changing the lives of individuals with mobility challenges. With this wheel, even small curbs or obstacles that were difficult for traditional wheelchairs to overcome can be easily navigated without the need for additional power controls, simply through its mechanical structure. This significantly expands the user's range of mobility, contributing to an increase in the self-esteem of people with mobility impairments and receiving positive responses.

Robot companies also demonstrated their technological expertise and innovation at CES 2025. Through human-centered technology development, wearable robots are expected to seamlessly integrate into the daily lives of various users, contributing to an improvement in their quality of life.
 

Woore Robotics won the Robotics Innovation Award for two consecutive years with their wearable walking assist robot, "WIM." WIM is an ultra-lightweight wearable robot developed with the goal of "one robot per person," designed to promote proper walking exercise for the general public. It has been highly praised for its significant improvements in weight and usability, expanding its scope into last-mile mobility (LLM) and healthcare devices. Weighing just 1.6 kg, it can be attached and detached in just 30 seconds.

By linking the dedicated app, WIM analyzes user walking posture, efficiency, muscle strength, and walking age based on AI and big data, providing recommendations for improvement. This makes it beneficial not only for seniors facing muscle loss and chronic patients with walking difficulties due to various health conditions but also for the general public who enjoy activities like hiking and outdoor trekking.
 

Hurotics won the Robotics Innovation Award at CES 2024 for its soft robot suit 'H-Flex,' and at CES 2025, it was recognized with Innovation Awards in two categories: Aging & Accessibility and Robotics, achieving the remarkable feat of winning for two consecutive years.

The innovation award-winning product, ‘Medi (H-Medi),’ is a wearable rehabilitation robot developed through collaboration with Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University, and Robowell Korea, with support from the Multi-Ministry National R&D Program for Medical Devices. Equipped with AI technology, it recognizes the wearer’s walking pattern and provides personalized rehabilitation therapy. Its lightweight and comfortable design allow it to be used easily like everyday clothes or a bag. This enables users to receive effective treatment not only in rehabilitation rooms but also while moving freely anywhere.

The system can provide real-time assistance tailored to the walking pattern of individuals with mild walking impairments, and its lightweight design is considered a significant advantage over existing wearable robots. Additionally, it features adjustable left and right sides, making it suitable for use by hemiplegic patients as well. This flexibility is particularly noteworthy. It is expected to contribute to enhanced rehabilitation outcomes, especially for individuals with muscle atrophy and mild Parkinson's disease.
 

The robotics subsidiary of game development and service company Benoti&AL, Human In Motion Robotics, has been recognized for its innovative technology in the robotics sector with its next-generation wearable robot, ExoMotion-R. ExoMotion-R is a model specifically designed for the rehabilitation of individuals with lower body paralysis. It is equipped with self-balancing technology, enabling a dynamic sit-and-stand function that allows users to sit and rise flexibly and stably, along with a hands-free walking feature that enables users to walk without assistive devices.

Benoti&AL is working on the lightweightening and advancement of **ExoMotion** with the goal of releasing a wearable robot product that can replace traditional wheelchairs. The company has already obtained sales approval for **ExoMotion-R** from the **Canadian Health Ministry** and is preparing for distribution to local rehabilitation hospitals. Additionally, after receiving approvals from the **U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)** and **Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)** by the third quarter of next year, the company plans to expand its global customer base.
 

Shinseong Delta Tech in collaboration with Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) and JDesignWorks, has won the Innovation Award in the Smart Home category for its senior care robot 'Remy'. Remy was developed to assist elderly users with their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social stability. It collects real-time data from sensing ports installed throughout the home and provides services tailored to the user's needs based on the situation.

It also features the ability to stay continuously connected with friends, children, caregivers, and medical professionals. With AI-based voice recognition technology, it can be easily operated, and the system is expandable, allowing seamless integration with various devices in the home.

[Bio Times = Kim Garam Reporter]