Hyundai Motor Group-Boston Dynamics Launch Pilot Operation of 'Factory Safety Service Robot'

Robot Dog Spot Integrated with Hyundai Motor's AI Unit
Kia Gwangmyeong Plant Assists with Early Morning Patrols

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its first collaborative project since acquiring Boston Dynamics (BD), the 'Factory Safety Service Robot.'

On the 17th, Hyundai Motor Group announced that it recently began pilot operations of the factory safety service robot at Kia's Gwangmyeong plant in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. The robot autonomously patrols and inspects designated areas during early morning hours after workers have left, helping early morning patrol personnel monitor safety conditions in a comfortable environment.

The factory safety service robot was created by integrating BD’s quadruped robot 'Spot' with Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based software, called the 'AI Processing Service Unit.'

Spot can freely navigate narrow spaces and stairs that are difficult to access in industrial sites, and its flexible joint movements allow it to detect blind spots that are hard for human eyes to see. Hyundai Motor Group explained that by linking its self-developed AI unit, the robot’s autonomy and functionality have been significantly enhanced. The AI unit enables recognition of door opening and closing, detection of high-temperature hazards, and unauthorized intrusion detection through various sensors such as 3D LiDAR, thermal cameras, and front cameras, combined with deep learning-based real-time data processing. It autonomously moves within designated patrol areas in industrial sites using AI-based navigation.

Starting with the pilot operation at Kia’s Gwangmyeong plant, Hyundai Motor Group plans to accumulate various data, optimize the robot’s system, and enhance new functions to deploy it across diverse industrial environments in the future.

Hyun Dong-jin, head of Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab (Executive Director), stated, "The factory safety service robot is our first collaborative project with BD, designed to help people work in a safe environment," adding, "We will continue to collaborate with BD to create technologies and services that contribute to people’s safety and convenience."