Samsung C&T accelerates robot food delivery in Seoul apartments

SOUTH KOREA – Samsung C&T’s Engineering & Construction Group has expanded its autonomous robot food delivery service at Seoul’s Raemian Leaders One complex following a successful pilot.

Pilot Success and Technical Innovations

Last year, the group collaborated with robotics expert Neubility at the Seocho-gu site to validate robots’ reliability across multi-building layouts, tackling challenges like communal door automation and elevator integration.

Units navigated shared pathways at pedestrian speeds for safety, securing meals in recipient-only locked compartments to preserve freshness and prevent tampering.

This internal delivery model minimizes external couriers’ on-site movement, curbing access disputes, bolstering security, and mitigating collision risks in dense residential zones.

A survey of 113 residents yielded 95% satisfaction, affirming viability amid urban delivery pressures.

Service Expansion Details

This year brings broader coverage, linking with Yogiyo platform to access 130 nearby restaurants and cafés within 1.2km, vastly enriching menu options from bibimbap to baked goods.

Residents order via app; robots handle the final leg to unit doors after resident committee and management approvals, streamlining last-mile logistics in high-rise ecosystems.

Expansion builds on pilot data showing seamless coordination with building infrastructure, positioning Samsung C&T as pioneer in resident-centric robotics.

Broader Robotics Ecosystem

Parallel trials explore AI home companions for elderly monitoring and cargo movers from underground parking, weaving tech into daily routines.

Hyejeong Cho, DxP business strategy team vice-president, indicated preparations for robot-normalized living through innovative residential experiences.

The group envisions a comprehensive ecosystem delivering tangible lifestyle enhancements beyond meals, like automated parcel handling.

Urban Delivery Transformation

Korea’s robot delivery surge addresses labor shortages—delivery riders down 10% since 2023—and rising e-commerce, with US$20 billion market by 2025.

Samsung C&T’s door-to-door model outperforms sidewalk-only rivals like Meituan, integrating indoor autonomy via LiDAR and 5G for 99% navigation accuracy.

Globally, it echoes Nuro’s U.S. pilots but tailors to Asia’s vertical living, reducing carbon footprints 30% versus vans.

Future Implications

As pilots scale to other Raemian sites, expect ecosystem synergies: robots coordinating with smart locks, predictive restocking via resident data. This positions Samsung C&T ahead in proptech, blending construction prowess with AI to redefine multifamily living amid aging populations and urban density.

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