[Report] 'Only AI Calculating the Shortest Route Instead of Humans at Delivery Sites'... Coupang's 'Secret Weapon'

Basement 2 to 10 Floors Above Ground
Operation of Sorting and Transport Robots
Shortest Distance and Optimal Route Movement

"Daegu Fulfillment Center (FC) is a testbed. Here, we review which of the various automation technologies best match Coupang, and based on this, we plan to expand to other centers as well."

On the afternoon of the 6th, at the Daegu FC located in Guji-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu. This place is in an outskirt area about a 50-minute drive from Dongdaegu Station. It is an AI and big data-based automated logistics center that opened in March last year and is called Coupang's secret research lab. Access by outsiders is strictly controlled, and security is very tight. Movement was only allowed within the routes permitted by the guide, and photography was also restricted.

The Daegu FC spans the size of 46 soccer fields (from basement level 2 to ground level 10) and more than 320 billion KRW has been invested to build an automated fulfillment system. Upon entering the first-floor workspace, the indoor temperature noticeably dropped, and a chill was felt. Sorting bots were moving back and forth in the separated workspaces on both sides, with dozens visible. It was fascinating to see them moving quickly up and down, left and right, carrying items without colliding, making a humming sound.

The sorting bots are the core of Rocket Delivery innovation. They scan the shipping barcode printed on the product packaging and sort and move products by delivery destination within seconds. Essentially, all tasks involving humans moving or lifting items have been eliminated, and by calculating the shortest distance and optimal route, the existing logistics paradigm has been completely changed. As a result, the workload of regular employees has decreased by 65%, and customer service quality has improved.

(From left) Sorting robot, unmanned transport robot, unmanned forklift.

On the 7th floor, shelves larger than an adult male stretched endlessly. Here, you can find unmanned guided vehicles (AGVs) that look like large robotic vacuum cleaners, which easily move heavy shelves as a whole. Pickers can check product information and location on a screen when the robot brings the ordered product. When the product is picked and scanned, a light indicates which basket it should be placed in. Multiple customers' ordered products are treated as one bundle, and once the basket is complete, it is handed over to the packing staff.

The AGV robots carry shelves weighing up to 1000kg, displaying hundreds of products, and move along QR codes attached to the floor to deliver products to employees. They bring shelves within an average of 2 minutes and operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A site official explained, "Previously, employees had to go back and forth between numerous shelves containing many products to find the items customers ordered. Currently, more than 1,000 AGV robots have been introduced, and product display and picking operations have been automated."

On the 5th floor, dozens of unmanned forklifts were moving. When an employee pressed a button, forklift number 26, located closest, appeared. As the forklift approached the speed gate, the door opened, and it lifted and moved large-scale products autonomously. The space where forklifts operate and pedestrian routes are perfectly separated by fences to prevent accidents at the source. Additionally, a blue light marks the forklift's work area, allowing people to recognize its approach by looking at the floor, and it is designed to stop automatically when close to people.

The 2nd floor houses a spacious cafeteria and lounge. The lounge features floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering views of the outside scenery, and is equipped with massage chairs and books, creating a comfortable atmosphere. On the 1st floor, there is a health care room where employees can receive immediate assistance if they feel unwell. A health manager is stationed there, and counseling rooms, treatment rooms, and sleeping rooms are available for use at any time.

A Coupang official said, "Daegu FC symbolizes Coupang's cutting-edge logistics investment, creating a work environment where employees can work more comfortably and easily through digital logistics transformation. Based on advanced logistics infrastructure integrated with AI-based product management and automated robot technology, we are doing our best to continuously create jobs and contribute to the development of small business owners and the local community."