Who is ROBOTIS?

Today’s service robot industry is growing and changing at a breathtaking pace, as the technology continues to advance and allow for ever more capable robot designs. New robots are entering the market every day, and the companies behind these new platforms are frequently names that you’ve never heard of before. Oftentimes, this lack of name recognition is because they are brand new startups, trying to find success with their first product launch. Many of you out there may have thought that ROBOTIS, with their new GAEMI delivery robot platform, fell into this category of upstart companies trying to make a name for themselves.

In actuality, ROBOTIS has been manufacturing high quality DYNAMIXEL smart servo motors for the robotics industry for over two decades. While this track record of performance has made them a recognizable name within the industry, most of their contributions have been behind the scenes solutions for various applications from industrial automation to educational robotics. Today I’ll be introducing you to the history of ROBOTIS, and how that history has led them to the development of the GAEMI delivery robot platform. With its sleek design, advanced navigation capabilities, and versatile payloads, the GAEMI is poised to revolutionize the delivery service sector. ROBOTIS' extensive experience and expertise ensure that their products are not just a flash in the pan, but rather, game-changing solutions that are here to stay.

History of ROBOTIS

ROBOTIS was founded in South Korea in 1999 when founder ByoungSoo Kim sought to answer the question “What is a robot?” through the development of advanced robotics components that would help researchers to answer: “A ROBOT IS…”. ROBOTIS’ first product line was their flagship DYNAMIXEL smart servos, named for their DYNAMIC power and small, modular, CELL based design. These high-quality servos quickly gained recognition in both the industry and robotics research sectors for their advanced motion capabilities and superior precision.

As the demand for their components grew, so did ROBOTIS' presence in the market. In 2009, they embarked on a significant collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic and Purdue University, funded by an NSF grant, to develop the groundbreaking DARwin-OP humanoid robot platform. The DARwin-OP has since become a pivotal milestone in ROBOTIS' history, with multiple updates and enhancements over the years. Renowned for its versatility and advanced features, the DARwin-OP has remained a cornerstone in humanoid robotics research, continuing to contribute to the advancement of the field and a favorite platform of researchers at Google’s Deepmind and other high tech robotics teams. The DARwin-OP platform has also become a mainstay of the RoboCup robotic soccer league, with the 2014 RoboCup KidSize category having over 50% of all submission applications featuring the DARwin-OP base platform, with another 40% of the competitors in the remaining leagues using the THORMANG full-sized humanoid robot or integrating DYNAMIXEL actuators into their custom built robotic designs. In recent years, 95% of the teams in the RoboCup humanoid leagues have taken to using robotics platforms based on DYNAMIXEL actuators. ROBOTIS' commitment to innovation and their ability to create sophisticated platforms like the DARwin-OP and THORMANG solidified their reputation as a key player in the robotics industry early on in their history.

In 2015, ROBOTIS made a significant impact in the field of robotics by participating in the DARPA Robotics Challenge organized by Gil Prat, current head of the Toyota Research Institute, another longtime user of DYNAMIXEL hardware. The full-sized humanoid robot platform, THORMANG made an impression and put up strong results in the competition. In addition to ROBOTIS’ own use of their DYNAMIXEL powered THORMANG platform for this competition, a quarter of all competitors in the challenge incorporated DYNAMIXELs into their robotic platforms; Three other teams chose to compete using the complete THORMANG system, and two other teams recognized the quality and performance of DYNAMIXELs, and integrated them into their customized robotic designs. This widespread adoption of ROBOTIS' technology further solidified their position as a leading provider of high-quality robotics components. By pushing the boundaries of humanoid robotics and demonstrating the power of their solutions on a global stage, ROBOTIS continues to be at the forefront of innovation.

In the year following this impressive turnout, ROBOTIS announced a collaboration between themselves and the Open Source Robotics Foundation (Who’s parent Open Source Robotics Company was recently acquired by Alphabet), the organization behind the world leading ROS robotics research and development operating system to develop the third generation of the TurtleBot platform. This partnership allowed ROBOTIS to combine their expertise in robotic design and manufacturing with the foundation's commitment to open-source development, resulting in the powerful and accessible TurtleBot3 system. Released in 2017, the TurtleBot3 exceeded expectations with its flexibility and upgradability, thanks to a controller agnostic design allowing researchers and roboticists to leverage the best possible control hardware for their projects. ROBOTIS also provides first party support and development for a wide array of powerful single board controllers including Qualcomm SBCs, Intel Joule, NVIDIA Jetson and RaspberryPI, making it the most versatile TurtleBot generation to date. This achievement did not go unnoticed by the academic community, as many universities worldwide swiftly adopted TurtleBot3 as their primary robotics education and research platform. Its affordability and adaptability enable students and researchers to explore the complexities of robotics, fostering innovation and driving advancements in various fields. ROBOTIS' dedication to making robotics accessible to as many people as possible through the TurtleBot series continues to shape the landscape of robotics education and research, solidifying their position as a respected leader in the industry.

Just one year later in 2018 ROBOTIS conducted an Initial Public Offering in their native Korea, attracting a sizable equity investment from LG electronics, paving the way for ROBOTIS to begin development of the GAEMI platform. A significant milestone in this journey came with ROBOTIS being granted the first instance of regulatory sandbox approval in all of South Korea in 2019, allowing testing and development of their autonomous robot platform on the bustling streets of Seoul. This recognition by regulatory authorities highlights not only ROBOTIS' commitment to innovation but also their adherence to safety standards and responsible deployment of autonomous technologies. The opportunity to operate in a real-world environment like Seoul provided invaluable insights and data that informed the development and refinement of the GAEMI platform. With this regulatory sandbox approval, ROBOTIS solidified its position as a trailblazer in the service robotics industry, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and paving the way for the future of autonomous robotics as a whole.

ROBOTIS Brings Two Decades of Robotics Experience to the Hospitality Industry

Today, ROBOTIS is entering the latest stage of development on their GAEMI service robot platform. Years of research, design, and testing have culminated in a cutting-edge platform that promises to revolutionize the service and delivery industries. These robots leverage the latest advancements developed by ROBOTIS’ research and development engineers. Equipped with advanced sensors, AI algorithms, and cutting-edge navigation systems developed thanks to ROBOTIS’ extensive experience in the robotics industry, the GAEMI service robots are capable of seamlessly navigating complex environments and performing a wide range of tasks with precision and accuracy. GAEMI is also able to utilize it’s integrated robotic arm to operate elevators for seamless multi-floor navigation, and to access keycard operated automatic doors allowing uninterrupted travel across entire properties. From completing doordash, grubhub and postmates deliveries, to providing customer assistance, these robots offer a new level of convenience and versatility. With their sleek design and intelligent capabilities, ROBOTIS' GAEMI service robots are poised to revolutionize the way services are delivered. Beyond this generation of GAEMI service robots, ROBOTIS intends to continue their cutting edge research to bring even more capabilities to future generations of GAEMI, including cleaning and disinfection capabilities and fully functional integrated robotic manipulators.

ROBOTIS is thrilled to announce that they are now accepting applications outside of South Korea for potential pilot programs, starting from November 2023. This presents an exciting opportunity for hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments to explore the benefits of integrating the GAEMI service robot platform into their operations. By partnering with ROBOTIS, businesses can leverage the advanced capabilities of these robots to streamline customer service, enhance operational efficiency, and create unique, personalized experiences for their guests. Whether it's delivering room service, providing concierge assistance, or offering interactive entertainment, the GAEMI service robots are poised to elevate the quality of service in the hospitality industry. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to ROBOTIS at america@robotis.com to learn more and begin the journey towards implementing this cutting-edge technology in their establishments.