After testing in the second half of the year, robot delivery service to be deployed at Gwanggyo Alleyway by the end of this year
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] Delivery robots capable of autonomous driving both indoors and outdoors are expected to be deployed in actual sites as early as the end of this year. Woowa Brothers (CEO Kim Beom-jun), the operator of the delivery application 'Baedal Minjok' (hereafter Baemin), announced this on the 21st by releasing videos and photos of the next-generation delivery robot Dilly Drive (development name Dilly Z). The newly unveiled Dilly Drive features integrated indoor and outdoor autonomous driving technology, significantly improving performance and functionality compared to previous versions.
The most noticeable difference externally is the appearance. A soft airbag material that can absorb impact has been applied to the entire exterior. This is to minimize shocks to pedestrians, children, and pets in the event of sudden collisions during delivery. This design is the result of careful consideration to ensure safe delivery based on experiences from pilot operations on university campuses and apartment complexes.
LEDs have been installed on the front of the body to display simple text or images. When an impact occurs, the airbag pressure is detected to stop movement, and the front LED notifies the surroundings of the situation. Nighttime headlights and brake lights are installed at the front and rear, and LED lights are also applied to the flag so that the delivery robot’s operating status can be recognized by those nearby.
The size and functions have been optimized to allow free movement indoors and outdoors. The position estimation sensors and obstacle detection sensors installed on the robot have been improved from previous versions to operate stably even as the surrounding environment changes moment by moment. Additionally, the size has been optimized to freely enter and exit building entrances while delivering a certain amount of food. The robot’s carrying capacity is 25 liters, comparable to a mini refrigerator, and it can withstand a maximum load of up to 30 kg. Notably, suspension has been applied to each of the six independently moving wheels. This design prevents the food inside from shaking even when passing over irregular surfaces or high curbs.
The newly unveiled Dilly Drive will undergo final additional development and testing, including voice guidance functions, and is planned to be first deployed for pilot outdoor robot delivery at Gwanggyo Alley as early as the end of this year. Kim Yo-seop, head of the robot business division at Woowa Brothers, said, "Delivering by robot over short distances from restaurants within mixed-use complexes to residential areas requires the integration of cutting-edge technologies and service know-how, such as integrated indoor and outdoor autonomous driving technology and elevator linkage." He added, "Once the new robot is deployed, issues where delivery orders were not placed due to the very short distance will disappear, creating new sales opportunities for small business owners, and users will be able to receive food more conveniently in their desired spaces."
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