SK Telecom (CEO and President Yoo Young-sang) is launching a full-scale business in the AI robot logistics sector.

SKT announced on the 3rd that it has signed a business agreement with CMES (CEO Lee Sung-ho), an AI robotics software development specialist, for cooperation in the AI robot logistics field, including a new investment of 10 billion won.

CMES is an AI robot vision startup that is innovating robot automation processes through AI and 3D machine vision technology and driving the popularization of robots across various industrial sectors.

SKT President Yoo Young-sang stated at a press briefing held at MWC22 on the 28th that the company will launch a full-scale robot-related business based on AI as part of Connected Intelligence.

SKT became the second-largest shareholder of CMES by investing an additional 10 billion won this year, following an investment of 900 million won in 2016, and separately, CMES raised a total of 30 billion won including 20 billion won in November last year.

Since the second half of 2020, SKT has been preparing the 'AI Logistics Loading and Unloading Robot' business with CMES and has developed an 'AI Logistics Loading and Unloading Robot' capable of classifying non-standard products of various shapes and sizes.

Through this agreement, SKT plans to accelerate the 'AI Logistics Robot Joint Business' by combining its proprietary vision AI technology with CMES's 3D vision and robot control technology. The 'AI Logistics Loading and Unloading Robot' developed by combining the technologies of both companies currently demonstrates accuracy of 99.9% or higher in non-standard product classification and has secured global competitiveness.

Additionally, the 'AI Logistics Loading and Unloading Robot' developed by SKT and CMES is capable of processing more than 600 logistics boxes per hour, which is expected to help resolve the overwork issues of logistics and delivery workers and the shortage of logistics workers, which have recently emerged as social issues, and is anticipated to contribute to enhancing ESG value.

Going forward, SKT plans to establish a business cooperation body with CMES to develop cooperation models in the AI robot business sector and pursue expansion into the domestic logistics market as well as the United States, the world's largest logistics market.

Choi Nak-hoon, Head of SKT Smart Factory CO, stated, "Through this investment, we have been able to establish closer collaboration with CMES, which has competitiveness in the 3D vision and robot precision control sectors," and added, "We will continue to contribute to the development of the AI robot industry, including the logistics sector, and strive to help resolve social challenges."