Samsung Partnership Brings Delivery Robots to the Golf Course

Samsung Welstory, the food distribution branch for Samsung, has signed an agreement with robot delivery platform startup Neubility to launch an autonomous robot service for golf courses.

The partnership claims to be the world’s first self-driving robot service designed specifically for a golf course and will harness Neubility’s four-wheeled robot Neubie.

Commercialization of this autonomous delivery service is anticipated for October, with the robots set to be rolled out at golf courses in South Korea.

The companies say the rollout will aid the uptake of “smart golf.” An activity primarily associated with older (and less tech-savvy) generations, the introduction of new technologies is hoped to bring in younger enthusiasts and make the sport appealing to a wider range of people. 

Neubility conducted tests of Neubie last March, with the robot demonstrating efficacy in autonomously navigating a range of terrains, including steep inclines as well as narrow and curved paths. Now, Neubility reportedly plans to roll out more than 200 delivery robots for last-mile deliveries by the end of this year, with the potential to implement the same model in a host of other retail and corporate environments. 

“From demonstration testing to commercialization, the robot system successfully went through a number of verification processes,” said Sangmin Lee, Neubility CEO. “We will continue our efforts to roll out robot delivery services in various fields, including university campuses, parks and resorts, and corporate facilities where last-mile delivery robots can be most frequently used.”