Hyundai Motor Group's Yangjae Headquarters Transformed into a Robotics Test Bed

Launch of Three Types of Robot Services: Watering, Delivery, and Security

Coexisting with Robots in Employees' Daily Work

Autonomous Charging and Elevator Use

Safe and Convenient Operations through Integrated Control System

The Yangjae headquarters of Hyundai Motor Group has been transformed into a test bed for the Group's robotics industry.

Moon Gardener watering the landscaping in the lobby of Yangjae headquarters building. Hyundai Motor Group

On May 14, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced that they have taken the first step toward evolving into a robot-friendly building by launching three types of robots—watering robots, delivery robots, and security robots—at the Yangjae headquarters.

On the same day, Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, met with reporters at the Yangjae headquarters and commented on the deployment of robots in the building, saying, "We plan to conduct extensive testing here, and since we need to ensure everything internally before deploying them to other customers, we intend to make full use of them."

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have introduced three newly developed robots to shared spaces used by employees: the watering robot 'DAL-e Gardener,' the delivery robot 'DAL-e Delivery,' and the protocol and security robot 'SPOT.' These robots are being deployed to improve convenience for employees through robotic services.

Dal Delivery delivering beverages. Hyundai Motor Group

The deployment of these advanced robots within the headquarters reflects Hyundai Motor Company and Kia's commitment to becoming a leading human-centered physical AI company by creating an environment where employees can coexist with robots and naturally perform their work.

DAL-e Gardener is a robot that assists landscaping managers by supplying water to plants distributed throughout the facility.

Based on information collected from various sensors, DAL-e Gardener recognizes the space in three dimensions, distinguishing between plants, soil, and flower beds. It is equipped with a robotic arm capable of vertical movement and six-axis rotation to precisely spray water on designated spots.

With a PnD (Plug and Drive) module, the robot can travel stably, and utilizing sensor fusion technology that combines cameras and LiDAR, it accurately perceives its surroundings, autonomously navigating to its destination while avoiding obstacles in the crowded lobby.

If the water stored inside the robot runs low, it automatically refills by communicating with the building's water supply system, and any leftover water is drained autonomously to maintain cleanliness, thereby minimizing the need for human intervention.

DAL-e Delivery is a robot that delivers beverages from the first-floor cafe to pickup zones located on each floor.

When an employee places a beverage order through a mobile app, DAL-e Delivery retrieves the drink and delivers it to the specified location requested by the orderer. It can deliver up to 16 drinks at once and is equipped with a facial recognition system to ensure accurate delivery to the correct recipient.

Like DAL-e Gardener, DAL-e Delivery is also equipped with the same PnD module and sensor fusion technology, enabling it to autonomously navigate complex spaces and avoid obstacles on its own.

Security spot patrolling the lobby. Hyundai Motor Group

The security robot SPOT is a quadruped robot developed by Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group's robotics affiliate, used as a platform and additionally equipped with an autonomous driving module. This autonomous module, developed by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia's Robotics Lab, provides SPOT with the ability to recognize its environment and move autonomously.

With these autonomous capabilities, SPOT will patrol various areas of the building, delivering uninterrupted security management.

To foster a robot-friendly environment where humans and robots coexist, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have installed dedicated waiting areas and elevators for robots within the headquarters.

The three robots deployed will automatically recharge themselves at the designated first-floor robot station when battery levels are low, perform work autonomously as needed, and use dedicated elevators for inter-floor movement.

In addition to these three robots, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have implemented the facial recognition system 'FACI' throughout the building infrastructure to streamline security access procedures. DAL-e Delivery is linked with FACI, enabling it to identify orderers by facial recognition without requiring additional authentication.

The integrated control system 'NACON' enables the management of various robots in one place.

Robot managers can conveniently access 'NACON' via a web app anytime and anywhere to monitor the location, status, and charging information of registered robots in real time. They can also easily issue commands to adjust robot schedules and control positions, facilitating efficient operation of multiple robots of different types.

Thanks to these efforts, the Yangjae headquarters of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia has received technical verification from the global safety certification organization 'UL Solutions' as a building suitable for robots.

A representative of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia stated, "By performing work in spaces where people and robots coexist, employees can naturally experience the competitive edge of our robotics technology. We will continue to expand the variety of spaces where robots deliver convenience, leveraging our advanced robotics technology."

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