Seoul Robotics introduces V2X sensor tower to automate BMW fleets at Munich manufacturing facility –
Summary
Seoul Robotics, an AI-based perception software company, wants to turn first- and last-mile logistics hubs for automotive and trucking into mind hives, wherein one sensor tower controls the movements of a fleet, like a conductor of an orchestra, guiding hundreds of vehicles into place. Not only is this an unnecessary use of labor, but a lot of damage and accidents also occur when people — likely locals taking part-time gigs rather than highly trained drivers — drive in congested spaces, said Lee. By providing information from multiple vantage points, like behind trucks and around corners, the sensor tower should eliminate blind spots, thus reducing collisions and creating a more reliable process, the company said. Another challenge V2X companies have faced in the past, particularly on public roads, is the costs associated with purchasing and installing hardware, but Lee said from a logistics standpoint, the unit economics work out. In 2019, Bosch and Daimler joined forces to pilot automated valet parking, and Lee said there are a number of startups that have yet to publicly announce their tech but that also bid for the BMW gig.