First case of joint collaboration between Naver Labs and small and medium-sized enterprises… Presenting a desirable model of technology cooperation between companies

[Digital Today Reporter Kim Hyo-jeong] Naver Labs (CEO Song Chang-hyun), a technology research and development corporation of Naver, announced on the 23rd that it signed an MOU with transportation equipment manufacturer Samsung Caster (CEO Kim Jae-hyun) for the commercialization of AIRCART for libraries.

The two companies held an MOU signing ceremony at the Samsung Caster headquarters in Incheon, attended by Naver Labs Robotics leader Seok Sang-ok and Samsung Caster CEO Kim Jae-hyun.

The Aircart, the subject of this business collaboration, is an electric cart developed by Naver Labs using robotics technology. The Aircart received a lot of attention when it was first unveiled at ‘DEVIEW 2017’, the largest developer conference in Korea, based on its excellent design and the advantage of allowing anyone to easily and safely transport heavy objects. It can be used conveniently anywhere where people or objects must be frequently transported, such as hospitals, libraries, and factories, and has been introduced to the F1963 YES24 used bookstore in Busan to increase the work efficiency of employees.

Accordingly, Naver Labs plans to join forces with Samsung Caster to first focus on commercializing air carts for libraries and help library and bookstore staff with their work. Samsung Caster, with nearly 40 years of experience manufacturing major transportation equipment, is a mid-sized company that has domestically produced medical device wheels and has received favorable reviews from leading general hospitals. It is also widely known domestically and internationally under the brand name TRIOPINES. Based on its accumulated know-how, Samsung Caster will be in charge of domestic and international sales, including mass production and A/S of the device, while Naver Labs will be in charge of technology transfer.

Unlike the ‘AIRCART OPENKIT’ that was released last month, this MOU is a project in which Naver Labs is directly participating, so Naver Labs’ design and product name can be used as is when mass producing the device. The AIRCART OPENKIT is an HDK (Hardware Development Kit) that helps domestic companies with production capabilities to directly create specialized AIRCARTs for each application by utilizing patented technology and design drawings. 

This MOU is significant in that the business is carried out through cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises. Naver Labs has the opportunity to make the existence of Aircart more widely known through cooperation with Samsung Caster, and Samsung Caster has been able to improve its competitiveness by receiving the ‘high-tech robot technology’ from Naver Labs that it did not previously possess.

Seok Sang-ok, leader of Naver Labs, said, “We will take the lead in popularizing robot technology by going beyond technological research and development and commercializing it in areas that can be widely used in daily life.” He added, “Air Cart is a technology that can be widely used not only for transporting books, but also for medical carts, supermarket carts, smart carts for airports, and smart carts for tool boxes, so we expect its use in various fields.”

Samsung Caster said, “We are delighted to be participating in the first journey to commercialize Air Cart,” and “We will contribute to ensuring that library and bookstore employees in Korea and other countries can enjoy convenience.” 

Source: DigitalToday (http://www.digitaltoday.co.kr)