LG Business Solutions USA is bringing the LG CLOi ServeBot to the U.S. market in early 2022.
Model LDLIM21 is the first commercial service robot earning UL 3300 certification for safe operation in complex commercial environments such as restaurants, retail stores and hotels. The robot assistants can navigate busy environments while carrying up to 66 pounds of food or goods, assisting with employee workloads, enabling better customer service and increasing operational efficiency.
“The LG CLOi ServeBot is truly a breakthrough for all kinds of consumer-focused businesses, from restaurants to retail stores to hotels,” said Jeffrey Weiland, B2B robotics team leader at LG Business Solutions USA, in a statement. “As the first commercial service robot to receive UL certification for safe operation in consumer environments, the CLOi ServeBot’s semi-autonomous operation offers businesses an effective means to provide enhanced service, while freeing staff to focus on customer relations and build relationships that encourage repeat visits. Whether it’s delivering food from the kitchen to a table or packages from the storage room to the front counter, LG’s CLOi ServeBot can navigate virtually any environment and free up staff to handle direct customer service.”
Offering up to 11 hours of operation on a single charge, the LG CLOi ServeBot has three shelves that can each hold up to 22 pounds (10kg), for a total delivery capacity of 66 pounds. The robot can be programmed for a variety of floor plans, enabling precise multi-point deliveries.
Certification
The UL certification is a major step forward for commercial and consumer robots, with UL 3300 signifying a new standard for SCIEE units. Pronounced “sky,” SCIEE stands for service, communication, information, education, and entertainment. These robots are built to operate in open-world dynamic environments where they perform functional actions beyond monitoring and can adapt in real-time to changes in the environment.
“Achieving the first UL safety certification for a commercial and consumer robot is a significant milestone. LG has a long-term and deep commitment to public safety. The LG CLOi ServeBot achieving UL Listing demonstrates this,” said Ibrahim Jilani, UL’s director of consumer technology. “LG is leading by example for a very important aspect of any market’s maturity, and that is demonstrating product safety due diligence through UL certification.”
The LG CLOi ServeBot has a range of sensors and technologies. Combining data from a LIDAR detector, a 3D camera, a Time of Flight sensor and a bumper sensor, it can recognize stationary and moving objects in its path and make real-time adjustments to avoid collisions. Each shelf also has its own ToF sensor, so the robot knows when an item has been removed, sending the unit to the next destination. ToF sensors determine how far away objects are by measuring the time it takes a pulse of light to be reflected back, making them useful for both navigation and shelf occupancy detection.
As a customer service assistant, the LG CLOi ServeBot greets each encounter with cartoon-like eye animations presented on the unit’s top-mounted 9.2-inch touchscreen. Operators can use the touchscreen interface to adjust designated locations and select different modes in addition to modifying voice announcements and music played in response to customer interactions. When connected to the business’ wireless network, CLOi ServeBot enables cloud monitoring so users can receive almost instant status updates.
The LG CLOi ServeBot stands 52.7-inches tall, has a footprint of 20.1 by 20.1-inches and can move up to one meter per second (2.2 mph). The on-board 23,000 mAh battery provides up to 11 hours of continuous operation and charges from 0-100 percent in five hours using a 120V outlet. Each shelf measures 19.7-inches wide by 15.75-inches deep and has a removable placemat for easy cleaning.
Each LG CLOi ServeBot must be pre-programmed with a map of its operating space and destination points, after which it can automatically determine the ideal path for each point-to-point trip and navigate autonomously through different environments and around moving objects. Initially, the LG CLOi ServeBot will be available exclusively from certified integrators.