[Report] "I will finish the coffee errand as the youngest in the high-rise building"... XYZ unveils delivery robot 'Storage' for the first time

'2022 Seoul Cafe Show' Unveils Delivery Robot Storage
Autonomous Driving-Based Vertical Movement... Elevator Delivery Inside Buildings
Modular Design for Space Expansion... Can Store 75 Iced Coffees
CEO Hwang Seongjae: "Will Conduct Gradual Demonstration at LoungeX Mapo Branch"
Hyundai Motor Zero1, Samsung Venture Investment Secure 10 Billion KRW Series A Funding

On the 23rd, at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, during the '2022 Seoul Cafe Show,' XYG's ultra-compact autonomous driving robot Storige is seen transporting coffee.
Photo by Kwak Minjae

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Minjae] On the 23rd, the bustling 3rd floor C Hall booth number 761 at COEX Cafe Show in Seoul was crowded with visitors. An autonomous delivery robot shaped like a box was busily moving at a steady pace, flashing lights between walls surrounded by wooden crates. It is smart enough to stop automatically when a person's foot stands in front of it. This is the autonomous delivery robot "Storage," first introduced by the service robot startup XYG.

At the '2022 Seoul Cafe Show' that day, XYG unveiled the actual model of Storage, a compact delivery robot that moves between floors using an elevator, for the first time. Unlike conventional robots that only travel in horizontal spaces, Storage features stable autonomous driving technology that enables vertical movement. This allows delivery services within buildings.

Hwang Seongjae, CEO of XYZ.
[Photo by XYZ]

The reason Storage can move vertically and deliver between high-rise buildings is that it can connect to an integrated building system. XYG collaborated with a 'robot building solution' provider to technically enable communication between elevators and autonomous robots. Hwang Seongjae, CEO of XYG, said with a smile, "Storage can move between floors by calling the elevator and entering the floor number through an app. It can ease the burden of the youngest employee running coffee errands in a 14-story office."

Another feature is minimizing the robot's size and weight to facilitate movement in various spaces. Existing autonomous robots are large and heavy, making it difficult to use them in crowded elevators. However, Storage weighs only 25kg, about half the weight of other companies' robots. Its size is also reduced by nearly 30% compared to existing autonomous robots, making it easy to move in various spaces.

A compact delivery robot storage that moves between floors using an elevator.
Photo by XYG

Since the robot is used in actual retail environments, it was designed in a simple box shape to maximize convenience. It is modularly designed so that placing a standard-sized box on top of the robot creates additional storage space. The maximum load capacity is over 75 cups (30kg) of iced coffee, making it suitable for delivering various food and beverages, according to the company.

XYG plans to first deploy the unveiled Storage at the robot collaborative cafe 'Lounge X' in Mapo, Seoul, for demonstration. After a phased testing period, the company aims to expand its business into a 'robot building solution' that provides comprehensive services from food and beverage preparation to delivery. CEO Hwang explained, "I was concerned about how much the sales of buyers would increase when selling a robot worth about 10 million won to a cafe store of about 40 pyeong. Ultimately, if free delivery within buildings becomes possible through autonomous robots, we expect to maximize space utilization and increase the sales of robot users by 10 to 20%."

Min Junghoo, XYG's CRO (Chief Robot Officer), said, "Storage is the first autonomous delivery robot introduced by XYG, which has focused on developing automated food robots. Now that XYG has the robotic technology capable of manufacturing and mobility, the hands and feet of robots, we will strive to present more advanced robot services in the future."

Meanwhile, XYG completed a 10 billion won Series A funding round this month. Magna Investment, Korea Investment Partners, Hyundai Motor Group Zero1, Villains Investment, and Samsung Venture Investment newly participated through a multiple closing method, and existing investor Humax continued follow-up investments, with a total of six institutions participating. XYG's cumulative investment amount is 14 billion won.