LAVER LABS

Introducing ARC, NAVER LABS’ advanced multi-robot intelligence system.

Background – An opportunity with the cloud and 5G

Robot research by NAVER LABS can be summarized into three areas: natural interaction between humans and robots, artificial intelligence for robots, and the popularization of service robots. “Popularization” in particular must be a common goal for all contemporary robot researchers, and NAVER LABS has been focusing on this from the beginning. Our projects have been carried out following the mid/long-term roadmap for robot popularization. Some examples include the mapping robot M1 that creates maps for robots, the AROUND platform that allows autonomous driving without the use of laser scanners (based on the map cloud and deep reinforcement learning), and visual localization that enables precise indoor localization without the need for additional infrastructure.

The cloud is the key to robot service popularization. The idea of connecting robots to the cloud has been discussed for quite some time, but the recent emergence of 5G networks has marked a turning point. NAVER LABS is the very first company that demonstrated the potential of using 5G with robots. We had anticipated that the cloud could take on robots’ motions and controls by maximizing the usage of ultra-low latency 5G networks. Finally in 2019, we proved this with the world’s first 5G brainless robot demo at CES. We were confident that this technology would serve as the trigger for a complete change in the robot service industry, and immediately started developing a commercialization system—and the result is ARC.

An intelligence system that simultaneously makes all robots smart

ARC, an acronym for “AI, Robot, Cloud,” contains advanced algorithms and high precision data necessary for the coexistence between robots and humans. Many robots can simultaneously become smarter, just by connecting with ARC through ultra-low latency networks. ARC, uploaded on the NAVER Cloud platform, is able to show the robot’s exact position even indoors where GPS doesn’t work. It also takes on planning and processing for movement, localization, and task performance instead of the robot. Synced in real-time with spatial and service infrastructure, it understands and manages all online/offline environments between robots and humans.
We believe ARC is like NAVER for robots. People access NAVER’s services, such as its search engine, Knowledge iN, and NAVER Maps, to access the data they need. Likewise, robots can get the data they need to coexist with humans and understand spaces from ARC, in real-time. ARC also allows the cloud to serve as the cerebellum of the robot, taking charge its motions and controls through brainless robot technology. Because of this, we can heighten robot performance even while lowering production costs needed for expensive sensors or computing power. Even the Mini Cheetah—a robot that needs to be minimized and lightweight—can become smarter, with a massive data center substituting the role of its brain.
Looking further into this system, you can see that ARC is comprised of ARC eye and ARC brain.

ARC eye, the telegnosis for robots

It is essential for robots to have mobility to provide services. In addition to having excellent autonomous driving technology, it should also be able to perceive its exact location and plan an efficient route to the destination. ARC eye is the telegnosis for robots. Wherever the robots are located, ARC eye can perform accurate localization and provide the most efficient route to the robot. This even works indoors where there is no GPS access. Visual localization, an AI technology, makes all this possible. Just as we determine where we are from our surroundings, like signboards, visual localization allows localization based solely on camera images.

ARC brain, the robots’ shared brain
ARC brain is the brain for all robots, planning and processing movement, localization, and task performance instead of the robot. It is also connected with building infrastructure and service servers in real-time to provide users with services efficiently and naturally. An interesting advantage appears when we separate functions, previously performed internally, and move it into the ARC system. We can remotely and easily update/change applications, functions needed for robots to perform services, through the cloud. For example, we can easily manage robots to do package delivery in the morning, then convert them to work in cafés in the afternoon with ARC brain. Likewise, as more and more functionalities are replaced by ARC, robot hardware can be made simpler.

ARC’s 4 advancements

There are four reasons as to why we are so confident in the advancement of this new multi-robot intelligence system.

The first is technology and data that NAVER LABS has accumulated over the years. We have internalized independent technology on all fronts, from high-precision data, artificial intelligence for robots, HRI, hardware and software, to server engineering.

The second is the NAVER Cloud platform. Without NAVER’s advanced cloud computing technology and infrastructure, it would have been difficult to even begin the challenge of popularizing robot services. In 10 years, we are expecting Gak Sejong, the hyperscale data center currently under construction, to be the brain center for all robots in this country.

The third is NAVER’s second office building. The first version of ARC will be commercialized in NAVER's second office building for the first time, with the name ARC-1. No matter how great a technology is, it is hard to deal with diverse environments and situations only based on a short-term pilot test. NAVER’s second office building, being constructed as the first robot-friendly building, is the best test field where we can rapidly advance the ARC system into perfection. This place will be a reference for understanding how future life space must change, following the popularization of robot services.

The final reason is the various services that NAVER provides. The core of service robots is in the service itself. We need to provide users with practical benefits and new experiences. Robots, like smartphones have done until now, will be the new hub that connects the various services of NAVER.

 

With the multi-robot intelligence system ARC, a new connection between AI, Robot, and Cloud begins.
About ARC >