Hyundai Movex Co. has been selected to spearhead a government-backed initiative to develop high-precision large autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in South Korea. The project, part of the country’s 2024 materials and components technology development program, comes with a 9.4 billion won ($7 million) budget.
The Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) will provide 7 billion won of the funding. Hyundai Movex will lead a five-organization consortium in this joint research and development effort.
The project’s goal is to create AMRs capable of transporting 2, 5, and 10 tons by 2027, with a focus on localizing core technologies. These large-scale AMRs are gaining attention not just as logistics robots but as potential next-generation mobility solutions.
While the project aligns with growing global demand for Hyundai Movex’s AMRs and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), questions remain about the practical applications and market readiness for such heavy-duty autonomous robots. The success of this ambitious project may hinge on overcoming technical challenges and finding viable use cases for these massive AMRs.
