HL Mando Corp., the electric vehicle and autonomous driving systems arm of South Korea’s HL Group, announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement with Kakao Mobility Corp. and KM Parking & Space Inc. to commercialize autonomous parking robot services. The collaboration aims to make “robot valet parking” a common convenience.
The agreement includes the formation of a joint task force by the three companies to develop a next-gen parking service. Kakao Mobility will work closely with HL Mando to advance the technology behind autonomous parking robots, create smart parking lots that integrate these robots and accelerate the adoption of robot-based mobility solutions.
Under the agreement, HL Mando will be responsible for operating its autonomous parking robot, Parkie, while Kakao Mobility will develop the control system using digital twin technology, which creates a virtual replica of the physical environment.
Kakao Mobility’s subsidiary, KM Parking & Space, will oversee the construction and management of smart parking facilities. Users will be able to access the robot valet parking service via the “Kakao T” app, which will link the three companies’ services, making parking location and management seamless and user-friendly.
This collaboration aims to integrate advanced parking robots with sophisticated control systems to provide a seamless parking experience, accelerating the commercialization of robot-based mobility services.
The agreement was formalized on May 13th at Pangyo Next M, with key executives in attendance, including Kakao Mobility CEO Ryu Geum-sun, KM Parking & Space CEO Kim Tae-sung, and HL Mando Vice Chairman Cho Sung-hyun.
HL Mando’s autonomous parking robot, Parkie, unveiled in December 2023, features Level 4 autonomous driving technology. It can navigate under vehicles, lift them, and park them precisely. Measuring only 90 millimeters in height, Parkie can transport various types of vehicles, from sports cars to SUVs, and has received the ‘Best Innovation Award’ at CES 2024 for its advanced technology and space efficiency.
Executives from all three companies expressed their thoughts on this collaboration. HL Mando Vice Chairman Cho Seong-hyeon emphasized the goal of popularizing parking robot services and creating new value in future mobility. Kakao Mobility CEO Ryu Geung-seon highlighted the importance of parking lots as key infrastructure for future mobility and pledged support for commercializing these technologies and their expansion into overseas markets.
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