South Korean multinational electronics company LG is partnering with software company Woowa Brothers to develop self-driving delivery robots.
The partnership aims to produce autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that can deliver food to people’s homes as well to the tables of customers at restaurants.
Testing of a prototype called Dilly began at a food court in the city of Cheonan, South Korea this week.
At 83cm tall, 77cm long and 68cm wide, Dilly is approximately the size of a small refrigerator.
It has a compartment to carry food with sensors detecting its whereabouts and obstacles.
Woowa Brothers, operator of South Korea’s top food delivery app service Baedal Minjok, achieved unicorn startup status when German company Delivery Hero acquired it for around US$4bn in January this year.
The partnership with LG will be the first time Woowa Brothers is involved in building hardware. As such, it has established a new business unit for its robotics research and development activities.
LG has already developed a variety of robotic solutions, such as service robots to provide assistance at airports, as well as robots for the home. It has also created an autonomous vehicles division.
Yoon Hyun-joon, vice president and head of the new robotics business division at Woowa Brothers, said: “We are investing and expanding in indoor and outdoor robotics to build a future where more people can enjoy good food wherever they want.
“We have researched and tested robotics technologies since 2017, and hope to create good synergy with LG Electronics’ advanced know-how.”
According to Woowa Brothers, the testing environment will gradually increase with testing on roads and pedestrian walks to be staged later.
Both companies said they hope to commercialise the technology in 3-5 years.
Read more from Robotics & Innovation
https://www.roboticsandautomationmagazine.co.uk/robot-delivery-service-launches-in-uk-town-centre/
https://www.roboticsandautomationmagazine.co.uk/grocery-delivery-robots-to-start-road-tests-in-california/
https://www.roboticsandautomationmagazine.co.uk/food-delivery-robot-pilot-launches-in-toronto/
