Hyundai Glovis jumps into indoor robot delivery service

SEOUL -- Hyundai Glovis, the logistics wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, will develop a customized urban logistics service by using indoor delivery robots. The first mission of self-driving robots is to deliver parcels, mails and drinks through a test run at the company's new head office in the first half of 2021.

Hyundai Glovis said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Twinny, an indoor autonomous robot developer. If their test run is successful, the two companies would launch delivery services at apartments, hotels and offices.

Hyundai Glovis would utilize Twinny's self-driving robots, which are equipped with ultrasonic sensors and obstacle avoidance functions to identify locations in complex indoor environments and deliver goods safely. They would establish a safe delivery platform so that consumers can easily designate a delivery location and time by utilizing smartphone applications and receive goods after simple authentication.

The robot to be tested will be 61 centimeters wide, 78 cm long and 110 cm high. It can load up to 60 kilograms. Once the indoor robot logistics service is settled, Hyundai Glovis plans to combine it with outdoor delivery robots. Hyundai Glovis has diversified its business scope using robots and new technologies. The company is involved in a project to introduce a smart parking service using robots at Incheon International Airport.