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SEOUL, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- South Korea's telecom giant KT announced Friday it is partnering with a local robotics company, Neubility, to create autonomous mobile robots. Under the agreement, KT will provide the know-how for the robotics platform and wireless network, while Neubility will contribute the software and hardware.
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Founded in 2017, Neubility has succeeded in developing affordable robotics, such as the camera-based autonomous driving robots, the kind that can operate without expensive lidar sensors.
The Seoul-based startup has produced a self-driving delivery robot, named "Neubi," accumulating data and streamlining the autonomous navigation system along the way.
Autonomous mobile robots are expected to take over such tasks as last-mile delivery, urban cleaning services and even certain hospitality functions.
Delivery robots, in particular, are projected to be commercialized the fastest as demand increases for doorstep deliveries that do not require human drivers.
According to U.S. business tracker Allied Market Research, the global delivery robot market could grow from $3.53 billion in 2020 to $30.05 billion by 2030, registering an annual growth rate of 24.5%.
"It's a great opportunity for Neubility, the company with an advantage in autonomous driving technology and related data," KT's AI robotics business division head Lee Sang-ho said in a statement.
"The collaboration will allow us to create a new kind of robot that businesses need in daily outdoor settings," he said.
The share price of KT went down 0.95% Friday on the South Korean stock exchange. Neubility has yet to go public.
