Naver D2SF has made new investments in two physical AI robotics startups developing field-focused automation technologies.
Naver D2SF, Naver's startup investment arm, announced investments in Khameleon, a company developing hotel housekeeping robots, and Anyware Robotics, a company developing logistics automation robots. The companies explained their investments as being driven by the teams' technological prowess, capable of solving practical problems in industries with high demand for automation.
Chameleon is developing robots to automate housekeeping tasks in the North American hotel industry. The North American hotel industry has recently been experiencing labor shortages and rising labor costs, leading to growing interest in robot adoption. While hotel robots are increasingly used for simple services like delivery and guidance, housekeeping tasks are complex and require high quality standards, limiting their commercialization.
To address these challenges, Chameleon is designing a humanoid robot capable of performing housekeeping tasks, including bathroom cleaning. It is designed for on-site application without relying heavily on network environments or hotel structures.
The company has secured potential customers in the US and China, and plans to complete a prototype specifically designed for bathroom cleaning in the second quarter of this year and conduct field tests. The company plans to expand its functionality to encompass all housekeeping tasks, including guestroom maintenance. Founded in 2024, Chameleon is a startup comprised of developers with experience in computer vision, robotics control, and remote control technologies.
Anywhere Robotics is developing robots that automate repetitive, high-intensity tasks in logistics settings. In the logistics industry, tasks like truck unloading, palletizing, and moving goods are often labor-intensive and carry a high risk of injury, leading to high demand for automation. However, due to the diverse work environments and inconsistent work patterns, practical robotic solutions have been limited.
Anywhere Robotics optimizes work speed and scope by training robots based on actual work data. Furthermore, it broadens the scope of field applications by designing a single robot to perform multiple tasks.
Anywhere Robotics is currently conducting technology validation in partnership with global robotics company FANUC and logistics company Saddle Creek. Founded in 2023, the company's founding team consists of experts in mechanical engineering and imitation learning, along with personnel with experience in commercializing and operating robots.
Naver D2SF plans to continuously expand its investment in technology startups across the entire physical AI spectrum, including cognitive, computational, and control.
In recent years, the robotics industry has seen a growing trend toward applying AI-based automation technologies to diverse industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and service, and investment in physical AI is also growing.
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