SK Telecom recently announced a KRW 10 billion investment in CMES and a business agreement to cooperate in the AI robot-based logistics sector with CMES, a leading AI vision robotics company. CMES is a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence ( vision robots. Through powerful AI and 3D vision technology, it has revolutionized robotic process automation for many companies around the world.
At the company’s press conference on February 28 at MWC Barcelona 2022, SKT CEO Ryu Young-sang stated that the company’s Connected Intelligence business will aggressively promote AI-based robots.
SKT became the second-largest shareholder in CMES with an additional investment of KRW 10 billion, following its original investment of KRW 900 million in 2016. CMES has raised KRW 30 billion in total, including KRW 20 billion in November of last year.
Through this arrangement, SKT and CMES will jointly promote AI robot-based logistics in full swing. Since the second half of 2020, the two businesses have been planning for the ‘AI-based loading and unloading robot’ business. They built an AI-based loading and unloading robot capable of sorting all shapes and sizes of irregular-shaped objects with 99.9% accuracy by merging SKT’s vision AI technology with CMES’ vision-guided robot software.
The robot, which can process over 600 boxes per hour, is projected to assist ease labor shortages in logistics and delivery worker overwork, hence adding social value. From now on, SKT and CMES will set up a business cooperation council to develop other cooperation models in the logistics AI robot business and create opportunities in both Korea and the U.S., the world’s largest logistics market.
Choi Nak-hoon, Vice President and Head of Smart Factory CO, said, “Through this investment, we will strengthen our cooperation with CMES, which has competitiveness in 3D vision and robot control. We will continue to make efforts to contribute to the growth of the AI robot industry including the logistics sector, and help tackle pressing social issues.”
