NAVER and LG Electronics Agree on Joint R&D for Robotics to Apply NAVER LABS’ Location & Mobility Platform “xDM” to LG’s Guide Robot

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CES 2019 - NAVER today announced an agreement with LG Electronics (LG) to cooperate on R&D to apply NAVER LABS’ integrated location and mobility platform “xDM” (eXtended Definition & Dimension Map) to LG’s Guide Robot. The partnership between NAVER LABS — which is developing numerous future technologies, including indoor autonomous mapping robot M1 and Hybrid HD Map — and LG Electronics was initiated during CES 2019. [Media Note: NAVER invites you to visit its booth to experience tech innovation at Tech East, LVCC, Central Plaza – CP 14. See also: https://www.naverlabs.com/en/].

xDM was first revealed at DEVIEW 2018, the largest developer conference in Korea. It combines the NAVER LABS portfolio of robot and AI-based technologies such as high definition (HD) mapping, localization and navigation with high-precision spatial data. Key features are self-updating 3D/HD mapping, precise indoor and outdoor positioning and context-aware location information based on real-time spatial data. It supports the development of future location-based services such as augmented reality (AR) walking navigation and autonomous mobility services that include autonomous vehicles, service robots and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

The partnership aims at creating synergy by merging the xDM platform with LG’s Guide Robot in part because xDM can realize precise indoor autonomous driving using low-cost sensors and low processing power, allowing LG Electronics to enhance the operation quality of its robot. At the same time, NAVER LABS can further enhance xDM capabilities with data collected by LG’s Guide Robot.

“NAVER LABS’ xDM platform is marked by the potential to be widely used for various future technologies such as autonomous driving and robotics,” said Senior Vice President Jinseo Roh, head of LG Electronics’ Robot Business Center. “With NAVER LABS, LG will not only continue to enrich the consumer experience, but will also contribute to the development of robotics. LG Electronics and NAVER LABS are discussing a larger partnership opportunity going forward.”

“Reaching a synergistic agreement with LG Electronics on joint R&D at CES is one of the greatest accomplishments of NAVER LABS,” said Sangok Seok, the head of Autonomous Machine Group at NAVER LABS. “LG Electronics is launching various robots to generate innovation of daily life and, together with LG Electronics, NAVER LABS will continue to realize NAVER LABS’ vision to develop ambient intelligence technologies.”

About NAVER Corporation

NAVER Corporation is the largest internet company in South Korea with a 73 percent market share. Since its founding in 1999, NAVER has pursued a mission of connecting people and information that enriches lives. NAVER provides a range of information and communications services, including LINE, SNOW, BAND and PAPAGO, throughout Asia and is now developing advanced applications through its NAVER LABS subsidiary. NAVER is shaping an interconnected world where people meet one another, networks encounter networks and where today intertwines with tomorrow. In 2018, NAVER was ranked as the world’s ninth most innovative company by Forbes and was listed sixth on Fortune’s Future 50 company list.

About NAVER LABS

NAVER LABS Corp. is NAVER’s R&D subsidiary, developing future technologies in areas such as autonomous driving, robotics and artificial intelligence with the goal of achieving Ambient Intelligence. It first began as an R&D division within NAVER Corporation in 2013, and was officially established in Pangyo, South Korea in January 2017. The company expanded into Europe in 2017 with the acquisition of the Xerox Research Centre Europe in Grenoble, France.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190110005196/en/