South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Group has initiated two pilot delivery programmes using autonomous robots, both of which are based on its Plug & Drive (PnD) modular platform, at a hotel and a residential-commercial complex in the outskirts of Seoul.
The group describes its PnD platforms as an ‘all-in-one mobility solution’, designed to leverage intelligent steering, braking, in-wheel electric drive and suspension hardware.
What’s more, the single wheel unit was developed to use a steering actuator for wheel rotation, which the company says enables it to turn 360 degrees.
The unit moves autonomously through use of lidar and camera sensors.
The service will operate using a delivery robot integrated above a PnD driving unit, which will come with a loading space to store items being delivered. The bot will also have a connected screen to display information for service users.
“PnD-based delivery robots allow quicker delivery times with improved safety through the use of autonomous driving technology, including fast obstacle avoidance capabilities,” said Dong Jin Hyun, head of robotics lab of Hyundai Motor Group.
“We plan to keep upgrading mobility services, convenience, safety and affordability for customers through our pilot programs.”
According to the carmaker, by adding an autonomous driving capability to the bot, the PnD-based device is equipped to find the optimal route within an area to deliver cargo, as it is able to recognise and move around fixed and moving objects to travel smoothly and rapidly.
In addition to these functions, Hyundai reports that the bot can move between floors by itself and use lifts, with its deep learning-based algorithms letting it recognise customers by face.
