Hyundai Robotics is partnering with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to develop construction robots.
Hyundai, a South Korean company, is a giant of the global industrial landscape and each of its business units is larger than most companies anywhere.
Newly established business unit Hyundai Robotics is claimed to be South Korea’s leading industrial robot producer, while Hyundai E&C is major construction company which was establish 73 years ago.
Hyundai Robotics, a subsidiary of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hyundai E&C for “Joint R&D of Construction Robotics Technology” on July 16th at the Hyundai Building in Gye-dong, Jongno-gu.
Through this MoU, both companies will jointly carry out the following activities:
- the development of robots working at construction sites;
- mobile service robot business;
- development of core technologies for autonomous driving in construction sites and buildings; and
- promotion of mid-to-long-term business.
Additionally, both companies will establish a research and development co-operation system that is available at all times to continuously demonstrate and commercialize the developed technology.
The construction robot will be used for anchoring (drilling holes), painting, welding, and brick-laying at the construction site.
Hyundai Robotics is in charge of cooperative robot and vision technology (camera image analysis), and Hyundai E&C is in charge of motion control for construction (manipulation) and application of autonomous driving technology at construction sites.
Furthermore, Hyundai Robotics and Hyundai E&C will jointly build “Autonomous Driving Integrated Software” by combining indoor and outdoor autonomous driving technologies, with their own strengths.
Also, both companies are planning to review the mobile service robot business that can provide services such as courier service to the tenants of the completed apartments and offices.
According to Global Industry Analysts, a leading publisher of the off-the-shelf market research firm, the global construction robot market is expected to grow 16.4 percent annually from 2020 to reach 242.5 million by 2027.
Dae-kyu Yoon, managing director of Hyundai Robotics, says: “Through this cooperation, we will expand the application of robot solutions to manufacturing and logistics, and then to construction.
“We will continue to upgrade robots in the construction sector based on specialized technologies from each company in line with the era of the fourth industrial revolution.”
Gu-yong Park, managing director of Hyundai E&C, says: “We will introduce the concept of automatic production, such as that of manufacturing, to the construction site and lead innovation in the construction industry by cooperating with Hyundai Robotics in the post-corona era.”
Meanwhile, Hyundai Robotics started as a robot business team in Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1984 and has established its position as the leading robot company in Korea by developing the nation’s first automotive robot and liquid crystal display transport robot.
It was launched as an independent corporation last May.
Main picture: Staff from Hyundai Robotics and Hyundai E&C at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
