Hyundai Motor and Kia’s DAL-e Delivery robot arrives

This upgraded version is tailored to excel in intricate environments like offices and shopping malls, building on the experiences from Hyundai Motor and Kia’s prior delivery trials.

“DAL-e Delivery offers efficient and reliable F&B and parcel dispatch services to ensure customers receive goods promptly,” Dong Jin Hyun, Vice President and Head of Robotics Lab at Hyundai Motor and Kia, explained. “Our vision extends to implementing infrastructure interworking across diverse spaces, including offices, restaurants, and shopping malls.”

The robot's design has been optimised for stability and agility in navigating complex indoor spaces. It features a square column shape with rounded corners and a low centre of gravity for enhanced balance. Its sensors are seamlessly integrated into a metal-like exterior, giving DAL-e Delivery a sophisticated and modern look.

Equipped with four Plug & Drive (PnD) modules, which integrate motors, steering, suspension, braking systems, and environmental recognition sensors, DAL-e Delivery achieves a maximum speed of 1.2m/s. These modules, combined with advanced autonomous driving technology, enable the robot to avoid obstacles and move smoothly in crowded areas. The improved suspension ensures a steady ride, crucial for the stable transportation of items.

Despite being more compact than its predecessor, DAL-e Delivery boasts a larger internal cargo space, accommodating up to 16 cups of coffee or items weighing as much as 10kg, facilitating the delivery of bulky and heavy packages.

An interior light illuminates the cargo area for easy identification of items. Upon arrival, the storage tray extends outward for effortless loading and unloading.

A key advancement is DAL-e Delivery's ability to autonomously navigate and access all building floors, efficiently working with elevator and door control systems to optimise delivery routes in real-time.

Upon reaching its destination, DAL-e Delivery identifies the recipient via a built-in camera and advanced AI facial recognition technology, developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics Lab, eliminating the need for manual password entry. This technology, certified by the Korea Internet and Security Agency for its 99.9% accuracy, highlights the Robotics Lab's technological prowess.

The robot features an 11.6-inch high-resolution display that clearly shows the service status, destination, and operational details, making it easy for users and bystanders to understand the robot’s current activity. Animated facial expressions on the screen are designed to foster a closer connection with users.

Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to deploy DAL-e Delivery at IGIS Asset Management’s ‘Factorial Seongsu,’ a smart office building in Seoul opening in April, during the second quarter of this year. This initiative follows a business agreement signed with IGIS in May of the previous year to promote the commercial use of robot-friendly buildings.