Earlier this year, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake in robotics design company Boston Dynamics and now the Korean automotive giant has integrated its technology in one of its plants in South Korea.
Hyundai will be using “Factory Safety Service Robot” based on Boston Dynamics’ quadruped robot, Spot, for industrial site safety at its Kia manufacturing plant. With an integrated thermal camera and 3D LiDAR, the robot is able to detect persons around it, monitor high-temperature situations and potential fire hazards. The Spot robot can be remote-controlled through a secure webpage that provides a livestream of its movements around the plant, enabling the workers to remotely observe industrial areas. AI technology also allows the robot to detect dangers and send alarms to managers through the secure webpage.
Based on these functions, the modded-up robot provides real-time sharing of photos of on-site situations and an activity log with the control center as well as support a rapid response in the event of an emergency by sounding an alarm on the control webpage.
The quadruped robot is reportedly small enough to navigate through narrow spaces as well as identify blind areas. Hyundai has also added enhanced autonomy features to the robot and it is equipped with technologies suitable for autonomous patrol services within industrial site environments, including task management and deep learning-based vision technology.
Through the pilot operation at Kia’s plant in South Korea, Hyundai will use the robot to support late-night security patrols. The company will also go through the robot’s proof of concept and assess its effectiveness before expanding its patrol areas and reviewing additional deployment to other industrial sites.
“The Factory Safety Service Robot is the first collaboration project with Boston Dynamics. The Robot will help detect risks and secure people’s safety in industrial sites,” said Dong Jin Hyun, head of Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab.