A hospital-focused delivery robot developed by Hyundai Motor Group's Robotics LAB has achieved positive results in its first proof-of-concept (PoC) trial conducted at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. While Hyundai has yet to finalize commercialization plans, the company is expanding related services as it sees strong growth potential in the healthcare robotics market.
According to industry sources on May 11, Hyundai Motor Robotics LAB has been conducting a real-world demonstration of its AI-powered delivery robot, “DAL-e Delivery,” at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital for the past 10 months.
The pilot project began after Hyundai Motor Group and Hallym University Medical Center signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in April last year to jointly develop a “robot-friendly hospital” environment.
The AI-based robot is designed to assist with hospital logistics and delivery tasks, including transporting medications and supplies within medical facilities.
Hyundai Motor Robotics LAB also received a plaque of appreciation during the hospital's 27th anniversary event held in March, in recognition of its contribution to hospital development and innovation efforts.
The latest demonstration project has focused on automating medicine delivery tasks within the hospital. The robot transports medications throughout hospital wards, reducing the workload of nurses who previously had to travel back and forth to the pharmacy in person.
Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital is regarded as one of Korea's most advanced medical institutions in the use of healthcare service robots. The hospital has operated a total of 78 medical service robots, with cumulative robot usage surpassing 80,000 cases as of January this year.
Among hospital departments, the pharmacy team recorded the highest level of robot utilization. The hospital's medicine delivery robot, known as “Yakje Nareumi,” handles around 70 deliveries per day -- equivalent to the workload typically managed by two employees working 40-hour weeks.
Hyundai Motor Group's Robotics LAB initially began the medicine delivery trial across four floors of the hospital before recently expanding operations to six floors. The robots are currently being tested mainly during nighttime hours, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Hospitals are considered particularly challenging environments for commercial delivery robots because of the complex movement of patients and medical staff, as well as strict safety requirements.
To address these challenges, Hyundai Robotics LAB equipped the robots with algorithms that allow them to delay boarding elevators when crowded and wait for the next available turn. The system also enables human intervention at any time in case of unexpected situations.
The company additionally integrated security features linked to medical data and hospital infrastructure. Delivered medications can only be received by designated personnel through prescription verification and identity authentication procedures. Facial recognition-based access control ensures that only registered staff members can access the medications.
Hyundai Motor Group's Robotics LAB has developed not only delivery robots but also its own robot control system designed specifically for hospital environments. The platform is integrated with existing hospital infrastructure, including elevators, CCTV systems, security gates, and media walls, to improve operational efficiency.
Building on its hospital logistics robots, Hyundai is now exploring broader opportunities in the medical robotics sector. The company plans to expand its range of healthcare-focused robotic services, including applications for its wearable robot “X-ble MEX” in hospital settings.
Seung-ah Je, Executive Vice President of the Robotics CX Team at Hyundai Robotics LAB, said, “We believe the market potential for robots specialized for hospital environments is significant.”
She added, “Based on the results of various robotics pilot projects, we plan to diversify our services further.”
Je also noted that wearable robots could become one of the most effective platforms for utilizing medical data and revealed that Hyundai is considering additional collaborations with hospitals in Korea.
