Hyundai Motor Group deploys delivery and parking robots

After acquiring Boston Dynamics in December 2020, Hyundai Motor Group has now rolled out actual robots in Factorial Seongsu, an office in Seoul, South Korea.

The first of the two robots, a Kia DAL-e Delivery robot, is now putting the firm’s autonomous driving capability to the test by autonomously navigating IGIS Asset Management's Factorial Seongsu office. Hyundai Motor states that the robot is able to seamlessly interface with the building's elevator and door control system and perform quick delivery services by planning optimal routes in real-time. It utilises an 11.6-inch display so those around it know about its service status.

Hyundai WIA's Parking Robot is now assisting with vehicle parking at the Factorial Seongsu office in Seoul

The robot is said to be capable of taking drinks (the orders for which are placed through a mobile app) from a cafe located at the office's basement floor, which it then delivers to a chosen office space or meeting room. It further makes use of a camera and face identification technology to ensure the drink is delivered to the correct person.

Also at work in this office is Hyundai WIA's Parking Robot, which can autonomously park vehicles weighing up to 2.2 tons at speeds of up to 1.2m/s. Comprising of two flat and wide units that slide under a car and moves its wheels, the robot is said to be compatible with any vehicle and utilises a host of cameras to precisely locate a vehicle's wheels. It is further equipped with Lidar sensors that allow it to detect people nearby.

The robot is said to be able to move in any direction, enabling it to manoeuvre vehicles in tight spaces where parking is difficult. This allows for more parking spaces in the same area, greatly increasing space utilisation. The move is said to be the first time an autonomous parking robot has been commercialised in Korea. This parking robot will work alongside Hyundai Motor and Kia's Automatic Charging Robot to provide EV charging services by the third quarter of 2024.

The Hyundai Motor Group plans to expanding its robot services to various buildings following their deployment at Factorial Seongsu.