KT Accelerates Global Expansion of Robots at MWC2023
[Barcelona=Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] KT is showcasing a cold chain food delivery robot at the world's largest mobile device exhibition, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023, and is launching an attack on the global robot market. The goal is to become a robot platform business operator that smoothly operates heterogeneous robots beyond the simple delivery robot market through the robot platform.
On the 27th at MWC 2023 held in Barcelona, Spain, KT introduced the KT robot platform 'Robot Makers' and an autonomous delivery robot equipped with cooling and heating functions.
On the 27th (local time), a visitor is experiencing a delivery robot inside the KT MWC exhibition hall. [Photo by KT]
The 'Robot Makers' platform, which forms the basis of the delivery robot, is a cloud-based integrated robot control platform that connects different types of robots and robot usage infrastructure such as ordering, payment, delivery, doors, intercoms, and cold chain into one. It is an open structure that can apply various robots to multiple businesses.
The cold chain system delivery robot introduced this time is the world's first delivery robot equipped with a function that controls the optimal temperature and humidity for each food item while delivering food. It can operate continuously for 8 hours regardless of weather conditions such as snow or rain and can carry up to 20kg. KT is currently building an outdoor delivery robot at a camping site in Jinju, Gyeongnam. When customers order items via QR code inside the tent, the robot delivers them immediately.
Jang Chang-won, head of the Next Generation Robot Business Team at KT AI Robot Business Group, said, "We installed a module that delivers food to customers at the optimal temperature for each food item, ranging from 0 to 60 degrees Celsius." For example, foods like French fries may have the right temperature but become soggy if the humidity is high, which displeases customers, so the humidity is also maintained at the optimal level. The food is delivered in an optimal state called 'geotba-sokchok' (crispy on the outside and moist on the inside) until the customer receives it. Cold beverages are also delivered at the best quality. The robot's status and temperature and humidity log information are recorded, allowing this technology to be expanded to the delivery of pharmaceuticals or fresh foods in the future.
KT also exhibited the AI quarantine robot, which was unveiled last year and commercialized, at MWC 2023, marking its full-scale entry into the global market. The AI quarantine robot autonomously operated without a driver at the KT exhibition booth at MWC, performing tasks such as air purification, airborne virus sterilization, and floor surface virus sterilization. KT plans to expand its robot services worldwide, starting with the AI quarantine robot.
Lee Sang-ho, head of KT AI Robot Business Group, said, "The delivery robot unveiled at MWC 2023 will be an innovative service that makes the parcel and food delivery market safer and more convenient, and we will contribute to creating better connections between people through robots."
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