Hyundai Motor Group’s newly renovated common areas at its Seoul headquarters is an expansive space the size of five soccer fields.
A machine glides across the lobby, its arm extending to water a plant. Another navigates the floor to deliver a coffee directly to an employee, using facial recognition technology to ensure it has the right customer. At night, a quadruped robot silently patrols the corridors, ensuring the security of the building and the safety of staff working late.
This scene has become a daily reality for employees across the five renovated floors which have been "reimagined as a living laboratory for the future of human-robot interaction," the company said.
Designing a Robot-Ready Ecosystem
From the project’s inception, the goal was to create a ‘robot-friendly’ environment. This meant more than just introducing new technology; it required fundamentally rethinking the physical space. A dedicated ‘Robot Station’ on the first floor serves as a central hub for charging, and an existing elevator has been designated for the robots’ exclusive use, allowing them to move between floors, navigating autonomously without disrupting employees.
The technological backbone of this ecosystem is just as crucial. Hyundai Motor Group’s ‘Facey’ facial recognition solution is integrated throughout the building, allowing employees to access areas and interact with services — including receiving all-important coffee deliveries — without needing a keycard or separate authentication.
Behind the scenes, the ‘NARCHON’ integrated control system acts as the conductor of this robotic orchestra. Managers can use a web app to monitor each robot’s status, location, battery life and schedule in real-time, ensuring the entire fleet operates efficiently and harmoniously.
Meet the Robotic Team
Three distinct robots, each with a specialized role, now share the workspace with their human colleagues.
The Gardener (DAL-e Gardener)
Making its public debut, the DAL-e Gardener is a robotic assistant designed to support landscape managers by watering plants distributed throughout Hyundai Motor Group’s HQ lobby. Acting as a silent custodian of the lobby’s greenery, it helps ensure consistent and careful plant care in busy indoor environments.
More than just a mobile sprinkler, the DAL-e Gardener works in coordination with landscape managers who set watering parameters through a proprietary Robotics Lab web application.
Based on these inputs, the robot delivers water where it is needed.
Using 3D vision technology to recognize plant position and structure, it determines the optimal spraying location and angle, while its six-axis rotating arm allows gentle and accurate watering that helps prevent damage often caused by conventional mechanical systems.
Built on a Plug & Drive (PnD) module and guided by a fusion of camera and LiDAR sensors, it moves gracefully and safely through the busy lobby. When its water tank is low, it automatically communicates with the building’s water system to refill, representing a new level of automated convenience.
The Courier (DAL-e Delivery)
Serving as a helpful workplace assistant, the DAL-e Delivery robot brings beverages from the in-house café directly to employees on the first three floors. It uses Hyundai Motor Group Robotics LAB’s PnD module technology for obstacle-avoiding autonomous navigation.
To guarantee the right drink gets to the right person, it uses the ‘Facey’ system to recognize the recipient, eliminating delivery errors and adding a touch of personalized, futuristic convenience to the daily coffee run.
The Guardian (Robotics LAB Security X Spot)
Providing round-the-clock security is a robot built on the ‘Spot’ quadruped platform from Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Boston Dynamics. Outfitted with an autonomous driving payload developed by Hyundai Motor Group’s own Robotics LAB, it patrols the headquarters day and night. The advanced module allows it to intelligently perceive its surroundings, navigate complex paths, and avoid obstacles, ensuring the building remains secure without human intervention.
Validating a New Standard for Robot-Friendly Buildings
Further reinforcing its leadership in human-robot collaboration, Hyundai Motor Group marks another meaningful milestone at its Seoul headquarters. The site has undergone technical verification by UL Solutions, a globally recognized safety science organization, confirming the suitability as a robot-friendly building.
Collectively, this initiative is Hyundai Motor Group’s next step toward a future focused on human-robot co-working. This is a vision for a society where robots are not just tools, but integrated, collaborative partners in the workplace.
