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Neubility's Neubie delivery robot in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Neubility

Autonomous robot startup Neubility said it has partnered with the city government to operate 10 delivery robots near Pangyo and Seohyeon-dong stations after regulations on outdoor delivery robots were relaxed. The project is aimed at helping small retailers reduce delivery costs. The company received 300 million won in government funding and another $130 million from other investors.

From November 2023, South Korea will license outdoor delivery robot services when the amended Intelligent Robot Development and Supply Act takes effect, while the amended Road Traffic Act classifies delivery robots as pedestrians, which can move on pedestrian crossings.

The loosening of regulations has prompted many robotics companies here to take their robots outdoors to test their capabilities in new environments. In partnership with KT and the Gangnam District Office, Neubility began testing its Neubie robot late last year, delivering drinks to customers who ordered them near Seolleung Station via a mobile app.

Woowa Brothers, which operates the Baedal Minjok delivery app, is also testing the Dilly robot for outdoor deliveries near COEX. Equipped with advanced cameras and sensors, the robot can accurately detect obstacles and avoid them while operating in crowded areas, according to company officials. It also uses a high-quality autonomous driving algorithm to avoid pedestrians and find a new route immediately when encountering unexpected situations.

Robotics, which previously operated Gaemi delivery robots in environments such as apartment complexes, campuses, resorts, and golf courses, is now gradually shifting to delivering drinks on the street, partnering with franchise coffee shop chain Vanada Coffee.

The outdoor delivery robot market is expected to grow to $105 million by 2027 from $4 million in 2020, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 17.3%, according to market research firm Quad Intel. In a report, Quad Intel wrote that the use of outdoor delivery robots will reduce overall labor costs, supplement delivery personnel, and carry more than 100kg of payload at a time.

However, the company also warned that robots could cause traffic accidents and injure pedestrians. Robots have also been criticized for encroaching on the space of pedestrians and people in wheelchairs.

(According to Korea Times)