[Pangyo Tech] Naver makes follow-up investments in two robotics technology startups

Image provided by Naver

Naver announced on the 16th that D2SF has made follow-up investments in two robotics technology startups that have supported growth after seed investment.

The startups targeted for investment are ▲Safetics, which has developed a safety analysis solution for collaborative robots, and ▲Flotic, which is developing a robot solution specialized for logistics centers.

Safetytics developed a solution to analyze and predict the safety of collaborative robots using only simulation without physical collision experiments. By modeling the robot’s structure and dynamic information, the impact of various collision scenarios can be predicted with high accuracy.

Collaborative robots equipped with this solution can perform real-time safety diagnosis on their own and can also control motion, making them effective in preventing safety accidents.

Safetyx attracted its first investment from Naver D2SF in the early stages of technology development in 2020, and has since rapidly advanced the technology to secure public trust from domestic and foreign robot certification organizations.

Generally, in order to receive safety certification for the installation of a collaborative robot, a physical safety fence must be installed, but the collaborative robot that has undergone safety testing by Safetytics has obtained certification without a safety fence. We are also actively discussing collaboration with domestic and foreign companies such as Naver Labs and Renault of France.

Plotik is developing a robot solution that automates the warehouse delivery process. It is a robot solution that can realize automation without changing the design or structure of the existing logistics center, making it competitive in terms of introduction time and operating costs.

We are actively collaborating with fulfillment startups such as Techtaka and Do Hands, and are developing products that reflect the characteristics of logistics center sites.

Flotic is a team founded in 2021 by Naver Labs Robotics intern members, and attracted its first investment from Naver D2SF in recognition of its growth potential immediately after establishment. Afterwards, we successfully developed the first prototype and successfully verified autonomous driving and picking efficiency improvement, stable linkage with field systems, and actual usability in an actual warehouse environment. We plan to complete commercialization within the year and begin full-scale business in 2023.

Both teams subject to this investment have been continuously interacting with Naver Labs since the first investment in Naver D2SF and are seeking contacts.

Safetyx has conducted collaborative robot safety experiments with Naver Labs, and Plotik has moved into ‘Naver D2SF @Bundang’ and is continuing close exchanges.

Inhyuk Kim, senior leader at Naver Labs, said, “The everyday use of robots is not something that can be achieved by one company with only a few technologies. Various companies form an ecosystem to collaborate, ranging from universal technologies such as robot safety to specialized service robots in specific domains such as logistics. “This is only possible when positive value creation occurs,” he said. “From this perspective, Naver Labs will strive to create an ecosystem by actively interacting with various robotics technology startups.”

Yang Sang-hwan, leader of Naver D2SF, said, “At the time of the first investment, both teams were in the early stages of technology development, but they have created differentiated technological value in their respective fields.” He added, “We actively support these startups to help them grow even bigger. “Like this, we will help continue close exchange with Naver Labs.”

Meanwhile, Naver D2SF has been steadily investing in robotics technology startups since its launch in 2015.

In particular, focusing on robot technology that can permeate daily life, we have invested in ▲roboarte, an automation robot solution for chicken cooking, ▲YDots, a dementia prevention robot solution, and ▲clobot, a cloud-based robot control platform. .

Source:  Pangyo Techno Valley Official Newsroom

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