KT Launches Customized Robot Service Platform Business... Releases Disinfection Robot

KT quarantine robot

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] KT is accelerating its customized artificial intelligence (AI) robot service platform business, which actively operates in various aspects of daily life, alongside the launch of its quarantine robot. Moving beyond simple product supply, KT plans to develop this into a platform business and promote it as a core project of KT's future vision as a digital platform company (Digico).

On the 30th, KT held a press briefing to unveil its AI robot service platform business strategy and AI quarantine robot. Lee Sang-ho, head of KT's AI Robot Business Division, stated, "We plan to evolve from the robot itself to a service platform that provides comprehensive customer experiences," adding, "We will continuously introduce new robot services that solve social problems and innovate customer experiences."

The AI robot service is provided as a comprehensive service including robot installation, platform usage, remote control, store consulting, on-site after-service dispatch, dedicated insurance provision, and store network construction. The AI quarantine robot is a customized robot designed from concept based on KT's analysis of customer demand, serving as a representative example showcasing the features of KT's robot service platform.

KT focused on 'quarantine in daily life.' Traditional quarantine activities typically involved wearing protective suits, evacuating people, and spraying disinfectants. However, the AI quarantine robot adopts an eco-friendly plasma method that is harmless to humans while sterilizing viruses by more than 99.9%, instead of spraying harmful disinfectants. The company explained that the plasma method allows safe disinfection even in spaces occupied by people. Additionally, ultraviolet wavelength (UVC) LEDs installed at the bottom simultaneously disinfect viruses that have fallen onto the floor via droplets, and the robot also provides air purification functions for fine dust, ultrafine dust, and harmful household gases.

The AI robot functions have also been implemented. Technologies such as safe autonomous driving based on Lidar and camera sensors and automatic charging enable the robot to move independently and perform continuous unmanned disinfection throughout the entire space. With 24-hour intelligent control, it offers proactive customer care services including remote monitoring and dispatch. Users can control the robot, check status information, and review disinfection scheduling and reports via a smartphone app. KT's AI quarantine robot is expected to attract attention in hospitals, local governments, and public facilities due to its ability to safely perform continuous disinfection. KT explained that demand for the AI quarantine robot is also high in office spaces, academies, and schools where many people inevitably stay for extended periods. Furthermore, the company anticipates that the AI quarantine robot will play a role in infection prevention at child and elderly welfare facilities to protect children in vaccine blind spots and elderly people vulnerable to infection.

Global market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) predicted that the global service robot market will grow to $122 billion by 2024, two years from now. The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) forecasted that the service robot market will record an average annual growth rate of over 23%. According to KT's Economic and Management Research Institute, the domestic robot market is expected to distribute a cumulative total of 230,000 robots by 2025 and grow to a scale of 2.8 trillion won, shifting its focus from manufacturing robots to the service robot market. Over the past year, KT has introduced AI service robots, AI hotel robots, AI care robots, and barista robots.

KT plans to leap forward as a 'robot service platform operator' based on digital platforms such as AI, networks, autonomous driving, and remote control, providing customized services that solve social and customer challenges and innovate customer experiences.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.