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Autonomous vehicle simulation startup MorAI raises $20 million funding

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MorAI, a developer of autonomous vehicle simulation technology, has secured a $20 million Series B funding round.

The round includes investment from new investors Korea Investment Partners, KB Investment, and the state-run Korea Development Bank, as well as from existing investors Naver’s D2 Startup Factory, Hyundai Motor Group’s Zero1ne, Kakao Ventures, and Atinum Investment, bringing MorAI’s total funding to date to $25 million.

MorAI was co-founded in 2018 by three autonomous driving researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Ever since, the company has established itself as South Korea’s sole provider of full-stack autonomous vehicle simulation solutions. [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicle simulation startup MorAI raises $20 million funding

Doosan Robotics breaks South Korean record with annual sales of more than 1,000 collaborative robots

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Doosan Robotics announced it has become South Korea’s first to achieve an annual sales record of 1,000 units for collaborative robots, also known as “cobots”.

Established in 2015, Doosan Robotics has manufactured cobots using proprietary technology and has maintained the position of number one market share holder in Korea since 2018.

Doosan Robotics has also performed remarkably in global markets, becoming the first Korean company to be named as one of world’s top five cobot manufacturers. [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics breaks South Korean record with annual sales of more than 1,000 collaborative robots

South Korea’s top battery makers enjoy steady growth

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South Korea’s Electric Vehicle Battery Trio – LG, Samsung, and SK – enjoyed steady growth in the January to March period, according to a report by SNE Reseach.

Amid intense competition in global EV battery deployment, LG Energy Solution ranked 2nd, while Samsung SDI and SK Innovation captured the 5th and 6th spots respectively.

Global competition for the world’s top spot for the xEV (EV, PHEV, HEV) battery market is getting fiercer, with CATL continued to top for both Mar 2021 and Jan-Mar 2021. LG Energy Solution came in 2nd, while Samsung SDI and SK Innovation ranked 5th and 6th respectively. [Read more…] about South Korea’s top battery makers enjoy steady growth

Tas Global commercializes ‘world’s first’ ship hull cleaning robot system

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A startup company called Tas Global is commercializing what it says is the world’s only robot capable of cleaning freely on curved surfaces.

The company has registered more than 30 patents in 16 countries including the US on the journey to bringing the robotic system to market.

Selected as a South Korean government project, Tas started by developing technology for processing organisms attached on a ship’s hull. [Read more…] about Tas Global commercializes ‘world’s first’ ship hull cleaning robot system

ABB to power South Korea’s first domestic zero-emissions ferry

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ABB has secured a contract with Haemin Heavy Industries shipyard to provide a complete power and propulsion solution for Busan Port Authority’s first all-electric passenger ferry.

The new ferry represents the first commitment by South Korean authorities to a plan which will see 140 state-owned conventionally powered vessels replaced with those operating on cleaner alternatives by 2030, in line with environmental legislation.

Sustainable transportation, including marine vessels, will play an important role in South Korea’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, set out in the country’s Green New Deal, announced in 2020. [Read more…] about ABB to power South Korea’s first domestic zero-emissions ferry

South Korea looks to strengthen position in global autonomous vehicles market with billion-dollar investment

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South Korea is looking to strengthen its position in the global autonomous vehicles market with an investment of 1.1 trillion South Korean won, which equates to about $1 billion.

The investment calls for the development of “level 4” autonomous cars, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, according to a report on the Korean Times website.

Level 4 autonomy – as defined by the SAE – means that a car is capable of driving itself but is designed to be ultimately controlled by a human driver. [Read more…] about South Korea looks to strengthen position in global autonomous vehicles market with billion-dollar investment

Hyundai Robotics to automate fast-food production for KFC

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Hyundai Robotics is entering the food technology market in cooperation with the global chicken franchise, KFC.

Hyundai Robotics has signed an agreement outlining “research and co-operation in automated production manufacturing” with KFC at the restaurant chain’s Eungam restaurant in Seoul, South Korea.

Hyundai Robotics’ COO Seo Yoo Seong and KFC Korea’s CEO Eom Ik-soo attended the signing ceremony. [Read more…] about Hyundai Robotics to automate fast-food production for KFC

Hanwha Energy celebrates completion of ‘world’s first and largest’ hydrogen fuel cell power plant

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Hanwha Energy hosted an event at its Daesan Industrial Complex in Seosan, Korea to celebrated the completion of a hydrogen-fuel-cell power plant that only uses recycled hydrogen.

At the event, Hanwha Energy CEO In-Sub Jung was joined by South Korea’s Prime Minister Sye-kyun Chung, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Seung-il Chung, Chungcheongnam-do Governor Seung-jo Yang, Member of the National Assembly Myung-sun Kim, and Seosan Mayor Jeong-ho Maeng.

Built by Hanwha Engineering & Construction, the new byproduct-hydrogen-fuel-cell power plant cost $212 million. It occupies 20,000 sq m of the Daesan Industrial Complex. [Read more…] about Hanwha Energy celebrates completion of ‘world’s first and largest’ hydrogen fuel cell power plant

LG supplies delivery robot to posh hotel

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LG Electronics is providing the services of its delivery robot to an upmarket hotel in South Korea, according to The Korea Herald.

The small, mobile robot is being employed at the Mayfield Hotel, in the capital city Seoul, and will deliver food from an indoor kitchen to diners seated outside on the terrace. It will also be used to carry dishes back to the kitchen.

There are two robots currently in operation at the Mayfield, and they look very similar to the ones unveiled by TeleRetail a couple of years ago., although we cannot confirm at this stage whether it is the same. [Read more…] about LG supplies delivery robot to posh hotel

Samsung expands chipmaking capacity

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Samsung Electronics, the smartphone giant which is also one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, is expanding its NAND flash production capacity in Pyeongtaek, Korea.

The company says the development will reinforce the company’s ability to meet demands from emerging technologies.

Construction, which began this May, will pave the way for mass production of Samsung’s cutting-edge V-NAND memory in the second half of 2021. [Read more…] about Samsung expands chipmaking capacity