LG Electronics Develops 6 Robots Deployed at Terminal 1
"Order via QR Code, Delivered to Boarding Area Benches"
No Store Fees or Delivery Charges... Available for Foreigners Too
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] From now on, passengers at Incheon Airport boarding gates will be able to receive bread or coffee delivered by Baedal Minjok robots.
Woowa Brothers, the operator of Baedal Minjok, announced on the 15th that starting from the 18th, they will pilot an indoor robot delivery service for airport users at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. This comes 10 months after signing an agreement for robot delivery services with Incheon International Airport Corporation and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy last year.
This Incheon Airport robot delivery service was developed so that airport users can order bread or beverages at each gate before boarding their flight and have them delivered to their seat. The robot delivery service can be used even at gates approximately 250 meters away from the farthest store.
Orders can be easily placed via QR codes provided at each seat in front of the gates. By using the QR code reader function within the Baemin application, customers select the store and menu, make payment, and the delivery robot brings the order to the location. An English page has also been created so that foreigners can use the service. Payment for domestic users is the same as the existing Baemin app payment, but foreigners can only pay by credit card.
The operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, totaling 8 hours a day. The robots are stationed in the central areas of the boarding gate corridors on the east and west sides within the duty-free zone of Terminal 1. The participating stores include Baskin Robbins Incheon Airport Air branch and Dunkin Incheon Airport No.1 branch on the east corridor, and Dunkin and Paris Baguette Incheon Airport Air branch on the west corridor, totaling four locations. Six robots will be deployed, and through consultation with Incheon Airport, the number of participating stores and robots will gradually increase. During the pilot operation period, stores will not bear any commission or delivery fees.
Notably, the domestic delivery robot 'AirDeli' (model name LG CLOi Subbot Drawer type) will be deployed this time. AirDeli is a robot developed by LG Electronics and is already being used as a delivery robot in hospitals and offices. It has two drawer-type storage compartments and can carry up to 17 kg (5 kg in the upper drawer and 12 kg in the lower drawer). It is equipped with a 9.2-inch touchscreen that displays the robot’s status. Woowa Brothers stated that the robot has received KC certification and is insured for up to 100 million KRW for personal and property damage in case of accidents. Additionally, personnel capable of assisting both domestic and foreign users will be stationed throughout the service period.
Kim Yo-seop, head of Woowa Brothers’ Robot Delivery Service Office, said, "This service offers convenience to airport users by allowing them to receive drinks or simple food while seated at the gate, and it is expected to generate new sales for participating stores. We will open an era where people can easily order via the app and receive delivery at their seats in various places and situations."
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