Hyundai Glovis partners with Twinny to create delivery robots

Industry

Published: 26 Aug. 2020, 17:22

Hyundai Glovis partners with Twinny to create delivery robots

From second from left: Lee Hyoun-mok, head of global logistics center at Hyundai Glovis, stands with Twinny co-CEOs Cheonn Hong-seok and Cheon Young-seok. [HYUNDAI GLOVIS]

Hyundai Glovis has partnered with a robotic solutions provider to explore ways to use robots in logistics.

The logistics company, which is 4.88 percent owned by Hyundai Motor, said Wednesday it signed a memorandum of understanding with start-up Twinny to work on robots that can be used in everyday logistics.

Established in 2015, Twinny is in the process of commercializing a robot designed with autonomous driving software. It owns patents for technology that efficiently allows robots to deliver goods indoors, according to Hyundai Glovis.

Hyundai Glovis plans to use the robots in everyday situations, like delivering packages, laundry or goods from convenience stores, for instance, to apartments.

To make the service work, the company will develop a delivery platform, through which users can choose when and where they want packages delivered.

“Because robots deliver packages to consumers at the time they want, they can receive safe and convenient logistics services,” said Hyundai Glovis in a statement.

The robot logistics service will be used in Hyundai Motor Group’s new temporary headquarters in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, which they're moving to in the first half of next year. Robots used in the office will be 61 centimeters (24 inches) in width, 78 centimeters in length and 110 centimeters in height, carrying up to 60 kilograms (132 pounds).

They move using ultrasonic sensors and avoid obstacles based on algorithms, according to Hyundai Glovis.

The ultimate goal is to use the robots outdoors.

Hyundai Glovis “is actively pushing logistics service using robots as the preference for contactless services grows,” said a company spokesperson in a statement. “We will raise the convenience of customers by adopting indoor robots.”

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]