Samsung C&T’s Engineering & Construction Group has moved to scale up its autonomous food delivery robot operations, building on a pilot that brought meals directly to residents in a large apartment complex in Seoul, Korea.
The company tested the service last year at the Raemian Leaders One complex in Seocho-gu, working with autonomous robotics specialist Neubility, to assess whether robots could reliably handle deliveries inside a multi-building residential complex.
Samsung C&T said that the robots operated at roughly walking pace to navigate safely through shared spaces within the compound.
Orders were carried in locked compartments that could only be opened by the designated recipient, a measure aimed at protecting the contents and maintaining food quality on arrival.
By using robots for the internal leg of the journey, Samsung C&T aims to reduce the need for external delivery workers to move around inside the residential area.
The approach is designed to reduce safety risks and the potential for disputes around non-resident access, as well as strengthen on-site security.
According to Samsung C&T E&C, feedback during the pilot period was highly positive, with a 95% satisfaction rate reported in a survey of 113 participating residents.
Starting this year, the group has widened the service to cover more restaurants around Raemian Leaders One.
Through a link-up with food delivery platform Yogiyo, residents can now order from 130 restaurants and cafés within a 1.2km radius, extending the range of dining choices reachable via the robot network.
Alongside the food service, Samsung C&T has been trialling other robotics applications for housing environments, such as AI-based home companions and robots for moving cargo from underground car parks.
Samsung C&T’s DxP business strategy team vice-president and head Hyejeong Cho said: “Preparing for an era where robots are naturally integrated into everyday life, we are continuously creating new residential experiences that residents can truly feel.
“Beyond food delivery robots, we plan to progressively expand a residential robotics ecosystem that brings meaningful, practical changes to daily living.”
