In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, the world’s first robot-friendly building unveiled by South Korean tech giant Naver redefines the modern workplace.
This innovative integration signifies a pivotal shift toward seamless collaboration between automation and human expertise, embracing robotics to meet the challenges of the future.
Futuristic workplace
Naver Labs, often called the Google of South Korea, is recognized as the developer behind “world’s first robot-friendly building.” Around 100 wheeled robots collaborate with 5,000 human workers at this futuristic office. Together, they handle tasks like delivering packages, lunches, and even serving Starbucks coffee.
This visionary space serves as a testament to the evolving landscape of collaboration, where artificial intelligence and human capabilities converge to shape the future of work. Designed by Samsung’s subsidiary, Samoo, the building is located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province with a unique exterior taking on the appearance of a 28-story robot hive.
Naver’s second headquarter building, located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, was completed in July 2022. The building is named Naver 1784 after its address at 178-4 Jeongja-dong. This name choice also signifies a connection to the year 1784, marking the onset of the industrial revolution in the United Kingdom.
With the innovative concept of a “tech convergence building,” the company’s nondescript design not only functions as a modern workplace for Naver’s employees but also as a launchpad for the company’s future growth in areas like robotics, artificial intelligence, and cloud services, demonstrating its dedication to advancing technology by serving as a test bed.
“At 1784, we’ll be experiencing and testing the future technologies we’re developing before presenting them to the world,” SangChul Kang, head of Naver Labs’ Project and Platform Group, had said in April 2022.
Inside Naver 1784’s office
Entering through the front, guests are greeted by a spacious lobby featuring a sleek and contemporary grey-toned atmosphere. The carefully leveled flooring, in a uniform ash color, is a notable feature, with minimal sills or gaps throughout the complex.
The perfectly leveled flooring ensures that Naver’s operating robots, known as Rookies, can move around without the risk of tipping over.
Standing at waist height, these robots can use a special elevator called Roboport to transport themselves to different floors. Notably, Roboport is the world’s first lift exclusively for robots.
On the second floor of the building, visitors can explore a collection of prototype robots. Additionally, there are mapping robots and even drawing robots on display, providing a surprising and delightful experience for onlookers.
“The reason we are so into developing robots, despite our origins being a portal engine company, is that we are sure the robots will become a new kind of platform to fulfill our needs, just like how mobile devices have substituted PCs,” Naver PR manager Sohn Seo-hee said in November. “We are striving to lead the change.”
The cutting-edge ambiance takes a gentler turn on the fourth floor. Amidst the lush greenery decorating the space, you’ll find Naver Care, a facility that conducts AI-based physical exams and contactless health assessments for the corporation’s employees.
The building is also home to a “startup factory,” an AI research center, and a designated area for testing mobile technology on over 200 devices.
Naver 1784’s robots
Rookies, the autonomous service robots, developed by Naver Labs, bring a high level of convenience to the workforce. Currently, there are 110 Rookies in operation, and they’re capable of delivering a variety of items to employees, ranging from a simple cup of coffee to large parcel packages.
As of now, the Rookies are the only robots in active use, and all robots are designed to send data from their sensors to ARC, a cloud-based system serving as the central intelligence for these robots. ARC creates a “digital twin,” a map of the building’s current internal structure to precisely locate each robot. The system relies on a local 5G network, ensuring minimal to no lag.
In addition to Rookies, there’s a two-armed robot named “Ambidex” responsible for cleaning the Rookies.
Earlier this year, Naver’s new headquarters hosted high-profile visitors, including Agustin Carstens, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements, Ryoo Sang-dai, Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Korea, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization. The discussions centered on exploring avenues for integrating artificial intelligence technology into the financial sector, showcasing a commitment to embracing cutting-edge solutions for the challenges of the future.