Hyundai Motor Group is indicating its wider shift into a robot-friendly mobility company by introducing various advanced service robots across the car manufacturer's revamped headquarters lobby.
The initiative corresponds with the organization's highly promoted goal to transition into a tangible artificial intelligence (AI) company.
Also Read: Indonesia Teams Up With South Korea to Upgrade Emergency System
At this year's CES tech fair in January, the automaker captured interest by showcasing its robotics vision to establish itself as a prominent physical AI competitor in the mobility industry.
The company has launched three robotic services as part of its headquarters renovation initiative: the DAL-e Gardener watering robot, the DAL-e Delivery robot, and the Spot quadruped security robot.
DAL-e Gardener helps facility managers by independently irrigating plants located in the lobby. Fitted with sophisticated sensors, the robot is capable of identifying plants, soil, and flower beds in three-dimensional environments. The robotic arm, which can move vertically and rotate in six axes, allows for accurate watering.
Also Read: Vietnam Seeks Greater Resource Mobilization for Economic Growth
DAL-e Delivery moves drinks from the cafe on the first floor to collection areas on all levels. Staff can order via a mobile application, and then the robot independently brings beverages to specified areas. It can transport as many as 16 drinks at once and employs facial recognition technology to confirm recipients.
“This renovation was not simply about redesigning a space,” Chung said during a town hall meeting. “It was a process of rethinking how we can build a better working environment while carrying forward the experiences, achievements and ideas accumulated here over many years.”
Spot, created using the quadruped robotics platform by Boston Dynamics, has been incorporated with Hyundai Motor Group’s autonomous driving system, allowing it to autonomously patrol the premises and deliver ongoing security surveillance.
Hyundai Motor and Kia launched charging stations and elevators dedicated solely to robots to enhance the robot ecosystem. The robots self-charge at specified “robot stations” and navigate between floors independently.
Also Read: LS Eco Energy to Supply Cables to AI Data Center in Vietnam
The recent lobby renovation embodies Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun's vision for fostering a more open and collaborative workplace culture.
“When we prepare for the lobby renovation, the keyword was communication,” Chung said. “We need to be more flexible to better understand customers. Each employee and executive have great ideas and capabilities, and we will be able to create much bigger achievement, once we connect them one another.”