LG CNS will conduct a proof-of-concept (PoC) trial deploying humanoid robots at the logistics centers of e-commerce company Kurly.
LG CNS and Kurly recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on "humanoid PoC and logistics automation business cooperation for smart logistics center advancement," the companies said Tuesday. The signing ceremony was attended by key executives from both companies, including Park Sang-kyun, executive vice president and head of LG CNS's Telecommunications, Distribution and Services Division, Lee Jun-ho, executive vice president and head of the Smart Logistics & City Division, and Heo Tae-young, chief operating officer (COO) of Kurly.
Under the agreement, LG CNS and Kurly will leverage Kurly's logistics infrastructure to pursue field-suitability verification of humanoid robots, development of logistics intelligence solutions, and identification of new business opportunities. The two companies plan to assess whether humanoid robots can be deployed at logistics centers and identify ways to reduce the workload of logistics workers and enhance stability. They will also verify the suitability of "Physical Works," LG CNS's robot learning and operation platform, by measuring and analyzing the robots' task accuracy, execution speed, and efficiency improvements compared with existing work methods.
LG CNS will also integrate Kurly's automation equipment and logistics operation systems across all of its logistics centers. The goal is to streamline the entire process from inbound logistics to storage, picking and shipping. LG CNS previously carried out the construction of Kurly's complex logistics center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, and its logistics center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Through those projects, the company secured technology for operating room-temperature, refrigerated and frozen environments in a single location, along with logistics know-how for Saetbyul (Dawn) Delivery.
Building on the successful application of humanoid robots within logistics centers, the two companies plan to continue advancing robot-based next-generation logistics intelligence.
"By combining LG CNS's technological capabilities with Kurly's logistics operation know-how, we will create meaningful synergy in the field of logistics automation," Executive Vice President Park said. "Through this cooperation, we will develop field-centered innovative technology."
"We hope to achieve innovation at logistics sites by connecting LG CNS's advanced physical artificial intelligence (AI) technology with Kurly's on-site data," COO Heo said.
