At the NAVER 1784 tower in Seongnam, South Korea, which opened in 2022, a revolutionary Starbucks
According to the company, this 28-floor building is a giant robotics test bed showcasing the daily operations of around 100 Rookie robots. These robots deliver packages, documents, coffee, and food throughout the building to staff who place orders via smartphones.
These 110 cm tall, boxy delivery robots use dedicated miniature elevators to ensure swift and efficient deliveries. They operate on the AI, Robot, Cloud (ARC) platform and a private 5G network, enabling intelligent coordination among multiple robots.
Managed remotely by a data center equipped with 3D maps of the building, these robots exchange location and action commands with servers via 5G signals. They travel at speeds of one meter per second and are equipped with cameras and sensors to prevent collisions.
NAVER, a company at the forefront of technological innovation, invested 500 billion won ($380 million) to construct the 1784 building. The building serves as a testing ground for the company's advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud services.
The numerical designation "1784″ represents the site's lot number and the year marking the first industrial revolution, highlighting the company's commitment to innovation.
In addition to the Rookie robots, NAVER 1784 features Ambidex, a dual-armed robot with advanced force transfer mechanisms for safe interactions with Starbucks customers. Along with the Roboport, a specialized robot elevator, these technologies enable swift and efficient access to various floors.
"Mechanisms that move a large number of robots efficiently through a large space are the core technology. We'll sell these systems externally," Seok Sang-ok, CEO of Naver Labs, told Nikkei Asia.
NAVER 1784's cutting-edge environment, with a capacity for 7,000 people, highlights the potential of automated customer service and intelligent delivery systems, offering a glimpse into the future of coffee service and beyond.
