Hyundai Elevator : Signs LOI for autonomous robots to use elevators

- Teaming up to develop indoor and outdoor autonomous robot-elevator interconnection services and domestic and international standards

- Securing global industrial competitiveness by developing elevator-robot interconnection technology, which is at the core of smart city project​

Hyundai Elevator, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), and autonomous robot company Neubility signed a letter of intent (LOI) on December 15 for developing interconnection services of indoor and outdoor autonomous robots and elevators and domestic and international standards.

The three parties plan to cooperate in △ Establishing elevator-use services for indoor and outdoor autonomous robots, △ Developing domestic and international standards for elevator-use services for indoor and outdoor autonomous robots, and △ Promoting/Spreading elevator-use services and standards for indoor and outdoor autonomous robots based on the agreement. Eungdo Kim, CDO of Hyundai Elevator, Seongsoo Han, Director of ETRI ICT Strategy Research Center, and Neubility CEO Sangmin Lee attended the signing ceremony held at ETRI headquarters (Yuseong-gu, Daejeon).

Last July, Hyundai Elevator released the MIRI API, capable of interconnecting elevators with platforms, such as robots and smart devices. Interconnecting its service with the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and autonomous robot technology, the company is providing medication/pharmaceutical transfer, room service, beverage delivery, and courier-delivery services at 17 sites, including Yongin Severance Hospital (Yonsei University College of Medicine), Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Chosun Hotel in Haeundae, Hanwha Resorts, and Shinhan Bank building. It is getting ready to provide services to 33 more sites.

Hyundai Elevator CDO Eungdo Kim said, "It is hard to imagine global smart city projects progressing without elevator-robot interconnection that connects vertical and horizontal spaces. We will take the lead in creating a smart city environment and generating social value by developing interconnection technology through three-party cooperation."

ETRI partnered with Neubility to jointly carry out the task of 'Developing a framework standard for building an indoor and outdoor autonomous delivery robot service platform' as part of the Ministry of Science and ICT's Information and Communication Broadcasting Standards Development Support Project since 2022. On December 6, the institute completed establishing two types of TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association) Standards related to 'urban autonomous delivery robot service' based on the research outcome so far. In particular, 'Interconnection requirements for urban autonomous delivery robot service' were developed as an international standard. The standard establishment approval process commenced at an international conference of SG20: Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities and Communities of the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) held in Arusha, Tanzania, last September.

ETRI ICT Strategy Research Center Director Seongsoo Han remarked, "It is essential to standardize data models and control protocols for interconnection of calling, boarding, and getting off the elevator for autonomous robots to move vertically," adding, "The three organizations aim to secure global-level industrial competitiveness by joining hands to develop international standard technologies for elevator-use services for autonomous robots."

Neubility, which provides delivery robot and patrol robot services in urban areas, university campuses, and camping sites based on its self-developed camera-based autonomous driving technology, has been running an 'expert consultative body' for conducting joint research to reflect the opinions of experts in academia, research institutes, and industrial sites in the standard development process over the past two years.

Neubility CEO Sangmin Lee mentioned, "It is a pleasure to play a role in proving the concept of the standard, which is a deliverable from industry, academia, and research discussions in line with the era of indoor and outdoor autonomous delivery robot services that began in earnest following the deregulation last November. The three-party cooperation will be the foothold for revitalizing the domestic industrial ecosystem and reinforcing national strategic technological competitiveness."

Starting with the LOI, the three organizations will perform a proof of concept (See *Note) for the standard to be developed during 1H 2024. ETRI will take responsibility for the research, Hyundai Elevator will provide a test bed, and Neubility will test the standards in association with the autonomous robot service.

*Proof of Concept: Demonstrating the realizability of a method or idea to prove its principle or feasibility. It is used as a method to verify new products or technologies before launching onto the market.​