South Korean mobile carrier, SK Telecom Co., teamed up with the country’s leading delivery service operator Woowa Brothers Corp., in the creation of a robot delivery service via SKT’s 5G-based cloud technology.
The two companies agreed to institute SK Telecom’s fifth-generation mobile edge computing (MEC) technology into Woowa Brothers’ autonomous delivery robots and self-driving food delivery robots.
SK Telecom and Woowa Brothers signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for technology and business partnership to secure leadership in 5G edge cloud-based delivery robot services.
5G Technology Meets Delivery
SK Telecom said that the two companies would collaborate in commercializing the company’s 5G technology expertise and Woowa Brothers’ forte in the food delivery business. Delivery robots operated through 5G MEC would provide upgraded quality service and stability due to ultra-low latency transmission technology.
MEC enables the delivery of ultra-low latency data communication in 5G networks, which allows companies to offer better solutions in cloud gaming, smart factories, and autonomous driving. MEC decreases latency through minor 5G-based data centers providing shorter routes for data transmission.
The company added that constant and automatic planning of paths based on real-time road assessments would enable an immediate response to unexpected circumstances.
Currently, Woowa Brothers’ 4G-based delivery service robots operate in limited parts of Suwon, Seoul. Since June, the two companies already tested an upgraded version of the 5G-based delivery robots at Konkuk University in Seoul.
SK Telecom and Woowa intend to set up the service in distant places and vicinities inaccessible by vehicles. The facility would also focus its operations during hours when workers are less likely able to deliver.
Additionally, SK Telecom would collaborate with robotics firm Robotis Co., to create an autonomous robot aimed for factories utilizing 5G MEC. The two companies intend to deploy robots in industrial facilities and factories to accomplish particular tasks like cargo loading and remote maintenance procedures.
