KT will showcase its second-generation GiGA Genie hotel robot "N bot," which has improved design and performance in partnership with Hyundai Robotics. N bot will be available at Seoul Novotel Ambassador's Dongdaemun Hotel & Residence from April 30.
Giga Genie hotel robot is an artificial intelligence (AI) hotel robot introduced by KT to Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun, Korea's first AI hotel, in December 2019.
It applies advanced ICTs such as space mapping and autonomous driving to deliver convenience items such as towels and bottled water to the room when hotel guests request them.
The second-generation GiGA Genie hotel robot, co-developed by KT with Hyundai Robotics, is notable for its streamlined slim design. On the other hand, the loading dock is 1.5 times wider than the previous one, allowing delivery of various hotel items.
Above all, the robot's motors and wheels have been improved with scientific designs, speeding up the movement speed by 40 percent, and improving driving stability such as avoidance in a crash situation.
Its battery performance has also improved, allowing it to be used more than 30 percent longer than before.
Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun will provide room service using second-generation GiGA genie hotel robots to 211 rooms in the hotel building. In the future, Giga Genie hotel robots will be used for simple repetitive tasks to further improve the quality of hotel services.
For the past six months, the Giga Genie hotel robot has been operated mostly during late-night hours (from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and received favorable reviews from guests.
KT expects guests to use the second generation Giga Genie hotel robot, which was introduced this time, while the untact service is highly preferred due to the COVID-19.
Guest-requested room supplies through the first-generation Giga Genie hotel robot were bottled water, towels, slippers, toothbrushes, body wash and shampoo. Also, the requested time was usually between 10 p.m. and 12 p.m.
Kim Chae-hee, executive director of KT's AI/BigData Business Division, said, "We expect that the second-generation Giga Genie hotel robot, which was introduced this time, will be well-received for its untact service using AI due to the fear of the COVID-19. KT will make life easier for customers by applying AI robots to various fields such as food and beverage and office."
