Newbility Targets Supply of 300-400 Units in Domestic Market This Year
Currently Operating 60 Robots at 5 Golf Courses and Others
A golf course in Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do is not only traversed by golf carts on its internal roads. Robots with four wheels and a cargo bed about knee-high for adults also leisurely roam between holes. The cargo space of these robots carries food. Without having to take a break to find a shaded rest area, the robot comes whenever and wherever you order during your round.
This year, commercial services for outdoor autonomous robots are expected to accelerate. Leading the way is the robot startup Newbility. Newbility began distributing robots primarily on private properties such as golf courses, which are not subject to regulations like the Road Traffic Act. The government has also decided to improve regulations, including allowing robots to travel on sidewalks within this year.
On the 17th, Lee Sang-min, CEO of Newbility, said, "We will supply 300 to 400 units to the domestic market this year with various services such as delivery and patrol services using robots." Newbility is one of the most advanced companies in commercial outdoor autonomous robot services. Newbility’s delivery robot, 'Newbee,' chose a cost-effective camera-based autonomous driving solution instead of expensive LiDAR for commercialization. Both software and hardware were developed in-house.
Newbility already opened the door with services on private properties at the end of last year. Currently, it operates 60 Newbee units mainly at five golf courses including Seragio CC in Yeoju and a camping site in Jinju, Gyeongnam. Newbility is the only company operating autonomous delivery robots at golf courses. The company plans to expand the service range and sales volume through discussions with partners. CEO Lee explained, "We plan to expand the service areas to more than 50 locations this year and launch full-scale business."
Outdoor autonomous robots can do much more than delivery. They can also perform patrol duties on university campuses and other locations. Robots move within designated areas to monitor and send signals to control centers if they detect unusual situations. Newbility is preparing to launch patrol services within this year in collaboration with SKT and SK Shieldus. A pilot test was also conducted at Duksung Women’s University.
Regulations on urban product delivery are beginning to be lifted, and commercial service outlines are expected within this year. Currently, autonomous robots cannot travel on sidewalks due to regulations such as the Road Traffic Act. Companies like Newbility and Robotis have only conducted demonstration projects in limited areas using special exemption systems.
The government has decided to revise related laws within this year to establish definitions and safety standards for outdoor mobile robots and to allow robots to travel on sidewalks. A legal basis will also be created under the Personal Information Protection Act to enable autonomous robots to collect surrounding information while moving. Robots will be added as delivery and small parcel transportation means. This will make delivery businesses using robots possible. CEO Lee said, "Regulations are gradually being lifted. We will accelerate research and development to improve technological completeness and commercialize services so that robots can positively and conveniently change our daily lives."
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