Naver to enter smart building market with 5G, AI robots

South Korea’s online portal giant Naver Corp. is set to enter the local smart building market with its cloud-based 5G networks and artificial intelligence robots.

Its two affiliates, tech R&D unit Naver Labs Corp. and cloud computing service provider Naver Cloud Corp., announced in a press conference on Wednesday they will commercialize its cloud-based 5G and a multi-robot system package for buildings by 2023.    

Naver has embedded the two core technologies, cloud-based 5G networks and a multi-robot system, into its two buildings – the second headquarters named 1784, which was unveiled in April, and its second data center named GAK Sejong, which will open next year. The two buildings will converge state-of-the-art technologies with tech experiments for innovative work environments.

The 1784 building is using the autonomous mobile robot Rookie, the face recognition system CLOVA FaceSign and the speech-to-text service CLOVA Note. GAK Sejong is testing robot assistants for server administrators and autonomous shuttle buses.
 

The two Naver affiliates said they will commercialize the cloud-based 5G network and ARC, its AI-powered robot cloud system that enables the cooperation of multiple robots. The network and ARC will update buildings that use the technologies via over-the-air programming, which is wireless delivery of new software and data, the firms added.

Naver Labs is focusing on the commercialization of two in-house AI technologies, ARC Eye and ARC Brain, by 2023. The former serves as the eyes of the AI-powered robot cloud, finding the current location and route even when the global positioning system (GPS) doesn’t work. ARC Brain plans and executes the AI robots’ movements, positioning and services.

By using ARC, Naver Labs aims to popularize robots, as well as efficiently link space and service infrastructure to any robot manufacturer in the world, the R&D unit’s chief executive Seok Sang-ok said.

Cloud-based 5G enables ultra-low latency across a group of devices, real-time data analytics and services, said Naver Cloud CEO Park Won-ki. “A number of our partners have needs for end-to-end solutions for cloud computing. We look to create 5G service models for the medical, logistics and airport industries.”

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.