Store location, route, etc. provided via screen and voice

A guide robot developed in-house by LG Electronics is welcoming customers at Starfield Hanam, Korea's largest shopping complex.

LG Electronics, in collaboration with Shinsegae Property, which operates the shopping theme park 'Starfield,' began field testing of two guide robots this week at Starfield Hanam, a large shopping mall located in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. LG Electronics plans to start an official pilot service at the end of this month after conducting field tests for approximately two weeks.

The guide robot autonomously navigates around the information desk on the first floor, providing services such as guidance on major facilities and stores, and displaying advertisements to the 25 million annual visitors of 'Starfield Hanam'. For example, if a customer searches for a specific store using the robot's touchscreen, the robot provides information on the store's location, detailed route, and estimated travel time via both screen and voice.

LG Electronics has also added the fun of allowing visitors to take commemorative photos with a robot. When a visitor enters their name on the touchscreen located on the robot's head, the robot displays the visitor's name on a large display on its body and says, "Are you ready to take a photo? Please take a picture to my command." The robot then gives the shooting commands in the order of "One, two, three, cheese," "Now, smile big," and "Finally, strike a cool pose!" so that visitors can take three shots. After finishing the shoot, they greet you by saying, "It was so cool! See you again next time."

Through this collaboration, LG Electronics expects to enhance its robot development capabilities based on data exchanged between guide robots and visitors, while Shinsegae Property expects to significantly improve the convenience of customers visiting 'Starfield Hanam'.

LG Electronics and Shinsegae Property plan to decide whether to finally introduce the guide robot based on the results of field tests and pilot services, and also discuss adding services such as voice recognition and escort.

The LG Electronics guide robot is a product that integrates core technological capabilities developed in-house by LG Electronics, including autonomous driving technologies such as location recognition and obstacle recognition, as well as control technology and the Internet of Things (IoT). Laser radar (Lidar; Light Detection and Ranging), cameras, and ultrasonic sensors mounted on the robot accurately recognize its location and detect surrounding obstacles, enabling it to operate safely and efficiently even in crowded, complex spaces filled with visitors.

LG Electronics announced earlier this year that it would foster its home and commercial robot businesses as future growth engines. In addition to guide robots, LG Electronics has introduced robots designed to enhance customer convenience in public spaces and homes, including cleaning robots, lawnmower robots, and hub robots. In particular, the guide and cleaning robots, which LG Electronics has been piloting at Incheon International Airport since late July, have been well-received by airport users.

Ryu Hye-jeong, Senior Vice President of LG Electronics’ H&A Smart Solution BD, emphasized, “We will systematically expand our robot business by continuously broadening our service areas to airports, large shopping malls, and more.”