Hyundai Elevator's open API for robots gains popularity

A delivery robot uses an elevator. Courtesy of Hyundai Elevator

By Park Jae-hyuk

Hyundai Elevator said Tuesday that the number of participants in its open application programming interface (open API) has exceeded 60, just a year after the company disclosed the interface to the public last March.

The participants include major companies such as LG Electronics, Kakao, KT, LG Uplus and Woowa Brothers, as well as robotics firms, state-run research institutes and individuals, according to the elevator maker.

API refers to a software interface to connect computers or computer programs. This allows connections between different types of systems and software.

Hyundai Elevator has been working on connecting its elevators with robots, enabling more than 30 buildings having the company's elevators to use robots.

Yongin Severance Hospital in Gyeonggi Province, for example, has 10 medical service robots operated by LG Electronics, SK Telecom and robotics firm Twinny. Those robots can use elevators and transport blood, samples and medical kits. The hospital also has robots for child patients.

“Our open API is based on cloud computing, so connecting with external devices such as robots and smartphones is available without additional equipment, if there is an internet connection,” a Hyundai Elevator official said.