Dilly Drive Robots Making Baemin Deliveries in Korea
Baemin is one of Korea’s most popular delivery services. Like many companies around the world, they are employing robots to help bring meals to their customers.
In a press release, Woowa Brothers Corp., the mother company that runs Baemin, announced a new delivery service that employs a self-driving outdoor delivery robot named Dilly Drive. The service will be available at Gwanggyo Alley Way, a high tech multipurpose housing complex in Gwanggyo, Suwon city.
Customers Scan a QR code in Home to Summon Dilly
In what the company is claiming as a first in Korea, Dilly Drive will go inside restaurants to pick up the food and then make deliveries to the multipurpose housing complex. The robot delivery service can be used by anyone, including residents and visitors.
Occupants of apartments and studio flats in Gwanggyo Alley Way can choose the menu and make orders from the restaurants and cafes by just opening their Baemin applications and scanning QR codes located in their homes. Orders can also be made at the plaza within the complex, using QR codes placed on outdoor tables. After an order is placed, residents can check Dilly’s status by using the app. They’ll receive notifications when the robot is getting close.
Dilly Delivery Robots Can Work Day and Night
Dilly travels on its 6 wheels at about 3 mph. Headlights help the robot work at night and in foggy weather conditions. Dilly can carry about 6 lunch boxes or 12 cups of beverages per delivery. The bot can run for 8 hours before needing a recharge.
As far as safety goes, onboard sensors and cameras help the robot navigate the streets, avoiding anything that may get in its way. Dilly is also programmed to slow down a bit in places that normally have a lot of people and will stop at crosswalks with a lot of cars. It is monitored in real time remotely and can be controlled in case of emergency.
Joseph Kim, Head of Robot Business Development at Woowa Brothers said, “Outdoor delivery robot service includes a lot more obstacles that interrupt the robot’s drive, such as the road surface, obstacles, the weather, unexpected events, and so on. It can be commercialized when sophisticated technology and service know-hows come together.” He also added that “Woowa Brothers will continue the development of delivery robot service for advanced delivery ecosystem.”
For the first month of service, Dilly Drive will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the weekdays, and its hours of operation will gradually be extended.
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