[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] HyundaiMotor Group has cleared the first hurdle toward commercializing outdoor autonomous service robots. Its autonomous transport robot, “MobED Pro,” has obtained the legal certification required for operation on public roads, laying the groundwork for outdoor operation in real urban environments.

According to the robotics industry on the 25th, HyundaiMotor’s MobED Pro received the “Outdoor Mobile Robot Operational Safety Certification” from the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) on the 22nd. This marks the first time HyundaiMotor has obtained this certification.

With this certification, MobED Pro is expected to accelerate its pilot testing and commercialization in various outdoor service sectors, including logistics delivery, facility management, and industrial site support.

The Outdoor Mobile Robot Operational Safety Certification is a mandatory legal certification that delivery, patrol, and transport robots must obtain to operate on sidewalks. It was introduced following the enforcement of the revised Intelligent Robot Act in November 2023; robots that obtain this certification are granted the same legal status as pedestrians, allowing them to travel on sidewalks. Previously, outdoor robots had to rely on regulatory sandbox pilot programs or similar exemptions to operate on public sidewalks.

The first Outdoor Mobile Robot Operational Safety Certifications in Korea were awarded in 2024 to Newbility’s delivery robot “Newbie” and ROBOTIS’ autonomous robot “GAEMI.” The certified robots have already been deployed in the field and are providing commercial services. Newbility operates food delivery services in the Songdo area of Incheon and the Gangnam area of Seoul, while ROBOTIS’ GAEMI has been performing recycling collection and safety patrol duties at locations such as Omok Park in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul.

The industry views parks, university campuses, industrial complexes, resorts, and large mixed-use facilities—spaces where pedestrians are present but operating zones can be relatively clearly defined—as the primary venues for the early outdoor mobile robot market. With this certification, HyundaiMotor has also secured the foundation to deploy the Mobed Pro in actual outdoor environments within the regulatory framework.

Mobed is a next-generation mobility robot platform developed by HyundaiMotor and KIA CORPORATION. HyundaiMotor and KIA CORPORATION first unveiled the mass-production model at the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) held in Tokyo, Japan, last December. At the time, they showcased a model with interchangeable top modules tailored for various applications—such as delivery, logistics, and filming—and announced plans to begin full-scale sales starting this year.

Mobed consists of the “Basic” model, designed as a research and development platform, and the “Pro” model, equipped with autonomous driving capabilities. The Mobed Pro is designed to recognize people and obstacles and navigate autonomously using AI-based autonomous driving algorithms and a fusion of LiDAR and camera sensors. HyundaiMotor expects it to be utilized in various indoor and outdoor environments, including logistics and delivery, facility management, and filming support.

In this certification, the Mobed Pro was registered with the following specifications: a width of 750 mm, a maximum weight of 132.5 kg, a maximum payload of 49 kg, and a top speed of 10 km/h. It can climb slopes with a maximum gradient of 10 degrees and must operate at speeds of 5.86 km/h or less when traveling on inclines.

However, this certification does not immediately pave the way for unmanned delivery services across the entire city. According to the certification conditions, the Mobed Pro is not permitted to cross pedestrian crosswalks, and remote control is supported only via short-range wireless communication, meaning it can operate only within the operator’s line of sight.

Consequently, its initial applications are likely to be limited to goods transport, patrols, guidance, and logistics support services within restricted areas such as factories, campuses, parks, resorts, logistics centers, and large-scale complexes. Areas without crosswalks where on-site managers can directly monitor the robot’s status are expected to be the primary targets for deployment.

An official from the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Promotion explained, “This is the first time HyundaiMotor has obtained operational safety certification for an outdoor mobile robot,” adding, “Mobed Pro applied for certification under conditions that excluded testing related to crossing crosswalks, resulting in a restriction prohibiting it from crossing crosswalks.”