Kakao Mobility is accelerating the commercialization of "physical artificial intelligence (AI)" by advancing its software platform-based robotics technology. The company aims to combine the mobility capabilities it has accumulated with robotics and AI technology to emerge as a leader in the robot control and autonomous driving market.
According to industry sources Thursday, Kakao Mobility is building a robot platform ecosystem based on its proprietary "orchestration" system. The concept is an "integrated control tower" that helps different robots move organically, regardless of manufacturer or device.
To achieve this, the company applied real-time demand-supply forecasting algorithms and matching technology that it has refined through its existing transportation management system (TMS). Under the structure, the platform automatically classifies tasks and performs optimal robot dispatching by comprehensively analyzing real-time demand, the characteristics of each robot, and precise estimated arrival times.
This robot platform is already producing tangible results across various sites. After introducing the platform at more than 10 major premium hotels in Korea through collaboration with robotics specialist Robotis, the average daily robot utilization rate rose eightfold compared with the initial period, while the delivery success rate reached 100%. In particular, one hotel that completed the introduction linked a QR ordering system with the control platform, resulting in hotel room service revenue increasing more than threefold.
Recently, the company has been rapidly expanding its scope to parking lots and large-scale industrial sites. The "robot valet service," unveiled in October last year in partnership with HL Robotics, is a representative example. Last month, the company signed a strategic partnership with HD Hyundai Site Solution. Through this, the company plans to integrate and control various industrial vehicles, such as unmanned forklifts in logistics warehouses, on a single platform, building a seamless work optimization environment across the entire process — from ordering to middle-mile transport on roads and operations inside warehouses.
Kakao Mobility plans to pursue all-encompassing service expansion that connects all autonomous driving agents, including cleaning, guidance, and logistics, beyond robot delivery.
"On the infrastructure side, we will also push for integration with logistics automation equipment and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems beyond the building unit," a Kakao Mobility official said. "We will advance our technology so that the automation system can flexibly handle even unpredictable contingencies, and lead mobility innovation in everyday life."
