Kia launches robot dogs to patrol factory

Kia will use a Boston Dynamics robotic dog for plant safety.

Normally we wouldn't write a story about a new security guard starting work at a Kia factory in South Korea, but this one has four legs, a thermal imaging camera and laser sensors, and it's called the Factory Service Safety Robot.

The recruit at the Kia plant is the first application of the technology offered by the Hyundai Group since this year's acquisition of cutting-edge US robotics firm Boston Dynamics.

Based on Boston Dynamics' Spot canine robot, the Factory Service Safety Robot plays an important role at Kia's plant in Gyeonggi Province.

Equipped with 3D lidar sensors and a thermal imager, the robot can detect people, track fire hazards and security risks as it autonomously patrols and navigates the facility using artificial intelligence.

“The factory service robot is the first collaboration with Boston Dynamics. The robot will help detect risks and ensure the safety of people in industrial facilities,” said Dong Jong Hyun, head of robotics laboratory at Hyundai Motor Group.

"We will also continue to build intelligent services that detect hazards at industrial sites and help maintain a safe work environment through ongoing collaboration with Boston Dynamics."

The robot will support the human security team as it patrols the facility at night, sending live images to a control center that can take over manual control if needed. If the robot detects an emergency, it can also raise an alarm on its own.

Hyundai Group says several robotic dogs could be brought together to jointly investigate risks.

Now that robot dogs are joining security patrols, the question is whether these high-tech guards could be armed in the future.

Cars Guide Hyundai was asked if it would ever install or allow one of its robots to be armed with weapons when it acquired Boston Dynamics earlier in the year.

“Boston Dynamics has a clear philosophy of not using robots as weapons, which the Group agrees with,” Hyundai told us at the time.

Hyundai isn't the only automaker doing robotics. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced that his electric vehicle company is developing a humanoid robot that can lift and carry objects.