Hyundai Motor Group and Incheon International Airport Corporation will deploy AI-powered automatic EV charging robots in South Korea to demonstrate the next stage in automated electric mobility infrastructure. The partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The company aims to commercialize its automatic charging robot (ACR) for electric vehicles through a strategic collaboration with Incheon International Airport Corporation. The latter will serve as the first public demonstration site for real-world applications and user testing.
Hyundai will supply the robotics hardware and software, develop smart parking interfaces, and tailor the charging scenarios to the specific needs of airport infrastructure.
Autonomous
The ACR is an autonomous robotic system capable of locating the charging port and initiating the charging process without human intervention. Hyundai says it is backed by artificial intelligence and robotics developed by its Robotics LAB and has already been tested in controlled settings, such as the robot-friendly building project at Factorial Seongsu.
The robots are designed to handle EV charging autonomously, streamlining passenger flow and vehicle turnaround at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. With Incheon Airport’s expansion under the ‘Incheon Airport 4.0 Era’ and ambitions to become an ‘Aviation AI Innovation Hub’, the ACR fits neatly into its digital transformation agenda. The ACRs have been certified under Korea’s KC system and meet European CE standards.
The ACR for EVs is a one-arm robot that plugs a cable into an EV’s charging port and removes it once charging is complete. Once the vehicle is parked in the EV charging bay, the ACR communicates with the vehicle to open the charging port, calculating the exact location and angle through a camera mounted inside.
The robot then picks up the charger and fastens it to the vehicle’s charging port, thus starting the charging session. Once charging is complete, the robot removes the charger, returns it to its rightful place, and closes the vehicle’s charging port cover.
Independent charging station
However, the ACR only works in combination with a charging station and does not contain any charging technology itself. The robot can grab the charging cable at the charging station, open the charging flap on the vehicle (via communication with the vehicle), plug in the cable, and remove it again once the charging process is complete.
This distinguishes the Hyundai solution from the mobile charging stations from CATL subsidiary CharGo, for example, which can roll up to parked vehicles and charge electric cars with an integrated battery, although here, the charging cable has to be plugged in manually.
“This collaboration will serve as a significant milestone in verifying the practical benefits of future mobility technologies,” said Heui Won Yang, President and Head of the R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “Hyundai Motor Group aims to offer a more convenient and enhanced mobility experience through a customised automatic charging solution that can be used in any setting.”
“We expect this partnership to significantly enhance service and improve operational efficiency at Incheon International Airport,” said Hag Jae Lee, President and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation. “We will continue to advance as the world’s leading digital airport, based on our excellent infrastructure and technological capabilities.”
