Logistics Innovation at the Future Innovation Technology Center G-LAB
The autonomous mobile robot (AMR) moves and transports a large box. After the AMR places the box onto the de-packing station, the station dismantles the large box and extracts the smaller boxes inside. The medium-sized boxes move along a conveyor and are processed for in-and-out storage by the AS/RS system. The medium-sized boxes are then transferred to the repackaging station, where they are neatly packed into larger boxes. Eventually, the large box originally shown is reassembled. This entire process is carried out automatically without human intervention. Employees watching the process were filled with curiosity and amazement.
Team Leader Kim Tae-hoon from the Advanced Technology Team explains the automotive logistics pilot line to the employees attending the event
Hyundai Glovis' Future Innovation Technology Center, G-LAB, which was established with the ambition to lead the logistics industry, is celebrating its first anniversary. To mark this milestone, G-LAB organized a demonstration of its automotive logistics pilot line, showcasing the results of its research to employees. The G-LAB demonstration event quickly reached full capacity, with 90 employees eagerly signing up, reflecting the overwhelming interest from the staff.
The de-packaging equipment dismantles large packaged boxes
Employees from various departments rarely have the opportunity to directly observe an automated logistics site. The G-LAB demonstration event was organized to mark its 1st anniversary and to provide employees with possible insight to their work, allowing them to explore Glovis' smart logistics development firsthand.
The picking solution developed for automating the picking of automotive parts
In addition to boxes, a picking solution for items with irregular shapes, such as automotive parts, was also showcased. The picking solution is designed so that even without prior information about the parts, AI can automatically recognize the grip points and move the parts. This technology has been patented by Hyundai Glovis.
Hyundai Glovis is the only company in Asia to own the logistics robot STRETCH from Boston Dynamics
Among the robots at G-LAB, the one that captured the most attention from participants was the logistics robot STRETCH from Boston Dynamics. STRETCH is unique to G-LAB in Asia, making it even more intriguing. Originally developed to unload special cargo from containers, the application of such a logistics robot is unfamiliar in Asia, including Korea. However, G-LAB has developed the world’s first de-palletizing function optimized for the domestic logistics environment and implemented it in STRETCH. This innovation enables the robot to be used not only in the restricted container environment but also in general logistics, providing a versatile solution.
Participants intently observing the demonstration of the automotive logistics pilot line at G-LAB
The automotive logistics innovations showcased at G-LAB left a strong impression on the event participants. “Seeing the concepts that we only read about coming to life in front of me really makes it hit home,” said Manager Jang Jung-woo of the Smart Logistics Business Team 2. “By actually seeing it with my own eyes, I can now clearly envision how to prepare service packages for our customers.”
Participants observe the automotive logistics pilot line
"Although my work isn't directly related, I participated because I was curious about what G-LAB is working on," stated Manager Kim Ye-jin of the Shipping Procurement Team. "I heard that G-LAB filed several patents last year, and seeing the technologies applied here with my own eyes has given me insight into the direction the company is headed."
“It was a meaningful opportunity to discuss the technical aspects of each department”
Manager Cho Hyun-ho, Technology Planning Team
What was the motivation behind organizing this event?
I believe that G-LAB plays a key role in shaping Hyundai Glovis's future vision. To paint that future, it's essential to understand the needs of the company staff. Therefore, we planned this event to create an opportunity for all departments to come together and discuss the technical aspects that each department requires.
It seems the reactions of the participants were quite positive.
Many attendees were amazed when they saw the lines running in action on site. It wasn’t just about saying "well done" or "cool"; there was real interest in how this technology could be applied to their own work, especially among the sales team. I found it rewarding to see them thinking about how these innovations could be incorporated into their own work.
Was there any feedback that stood out to you?
One person asked a very specific question about how to integrate this technology into a particular situation. I was happy to respond, explaining that our team has the expertise to adapt the technology to any given scenario. It wasn’t just baseless confidence; it was a chance to showcase the tangible results we’ve achieved so far, and that made me proud.
Are there plans for additional events where employees can explore G-LAB’s technologies?
Since this event had such good response, we are planning to create a tour system in the future. For example, in order for the sales team to be more effective, they need to understand what we do well from a technical perspective. If they have any such requests, we’d be happy to assist them in gaining insights.
“We prepared even more diligently due to the enthusiastic response from employees”
Manager No Hyun-kyung, Advanced Technology Team
It seems that the response to the event was even more positive than expected.
It was a pleasant surprise when nearly three times the number of people we had initially expected signed up. Originally, we planned to introduce the event to executives, including the CEO and department heads, but thanks to the positive feedback, we were able to organize another session for general employees! It seems like many people in the company are curious about the work we do at G-LAB, so we put in even more effort to prepare.
How long did it take to build the demonstration line?
The project to build the demonstration line started in May of this year. The AS/RS and AMR were built during the MFC Mini-Road PoC project earlier this year, and the large packaging equipment was developed during the 2023 KD Automated Packaging Efficiency PoC. We connected these existing systems into a single line and added the de-palletizing equipment and WCS, among others, to complete the setup.
What kind of technologies did the participants show the most interest in?
The areas of interest varied depending on the department, so it's hard to pinpoint one particular technology. However, I think it was meaningful that employees from different departments were able to realize that automation in the logistics business is not something distant, but something very much within reach.
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