Everyday life with robots within apartment complexes is becoming a reality. This is due to the recent move in the construction industry beyond the mere supply of residential space to the provision of housing services incorporating artificial intelligence (AI). Major construction companies are introducing robots equipped with autonomous driving or automation technologies, or are developing related technologies.

Housing services that use smart technologies are expected in particular to improve the lives of seniors. As robots assist seniors with mobility and support declining physical functions, their residential independence is enhanced. Consequently, the trend of “AIP (Aging in Place),” in which active seniors spend their later years in their existing homes rather than in care facilities, is also expected to strengthen.

On the 26th, Samsung C&T Construction Division announced that it had completed verification of food delivery robot services at “Raemian Leaders One” in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and would begin full-scale operation.

The food delivery robots receive ordered food from stores and deliver it to the front doors of each unit. Over the past year, Samsung C&T has worked with autonomous driving robot company Neubility to resolve technical issues such as allowing the food delivery robots to pass through common entrance doors and link with elevator call systems.

During the pilot period, residents could use food delivery robots for orders from about 10 nearby stores and a café within the complex. From this year, in collaboration with delivery platform Yogiyo, the delivery range has been expanded to about 130 restaurants and cafés within a 1.2 km radius of the complex.

Cho Hye-jung, head of Samsung C&T’s DxP Division, said, “We plan to gradually expand a robot ecosystem that brings tangible changes to residents’ daily lives, not only through food delivery robots.”

Previously, Hyundai Engineering & Construction began developing a parking service using robots in partnership with Hyundai WIA. Robot parking is an unmanned valet system in which robots autonomously transport and park vehicles. When a resident leaves a vehicle in a designated area, a robot enters beneath the vehicle, lifts the wheels, and automatically finds and uses an available parking space. Hyundai E&C plans to roll out the robot parking service to redevelopment and reconstruction complexes as well as new apartment buildings starting this year.

Jeong Soon-dol, professor of social welfare at Ewha Womans University, said, “In a situation where shortages of care workers and aging of the workforce are emerging as issues, robots can become a practical alternative,” and forecast that “as demand increases for robots that assist older adults in their daily lives, the application areas of age-tech will also expand.”

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