Korean accelerator Naver D2SF makes follow-up investments in two robotic startups

Naver D2SF (D2 Startup Factory), the Korean tech accelerator, has made follow-up investments in two robotics technology startups that have sustained growth after seed investment. The startups are ”Safetics”, which has developed a safety analysis solution for collaborative robots, and ”Floatic”, which is developing a robot solution specialized for logistics centers.

Naver D2SF has been steadily investing in robotics technology startups since its launch in 2015. In particular, focusing on robot technology that can permeate daily life, it has invested in ”Roboarte”, a chicken cooking automation robot solution, ”Wydots”, a dementia prevention robot solution, and ”Clobot”, a cloud-based robot control platform.

Kim In-hyeok, a senior leader of Naver Labs, said, “The normalization of robots is not something that any company can achieve with only a few technologies. It is only possible when a new value is created.” Talking about the latest follow-ups, Yang Sang-hwan, Naver’sNaver’s D2SF leader, said, “At the time of the first investment, both teams were in the early stages of technology development, but in the meantime, they have created differentiated technological values in their respective fields. We will help to maintain close exchanges with Naver Labs.”

Safetics collision prediction solution for collaborative robots

Safetics has developed a solution that analyzes and predicts the safety of collaborative robots only through simulation without physical collision experiments. The collaborative robot equipped with this solution can perform real-time safety diagnosis by itself and can control motion, effectively preventing safety accidents.

Safetics attracted the first investment from Naver D2SF in the early stage of technology development in 2020 and has since rapidly advanced its technology to secure public trust from domestic and foreign robot certification agencies.

A physical safety fence must be installed to obtain safety certification for installing cooperative robots. Still, collaborative robots that have undergone safety tests by Safetics have obtained certification without a safety fence. The startup is also actively discussing collaboration with domestic and foreign companies such as Naver Labs and Renault of France.

Floatic’s robots movements don’t need a redesign of warehouses

Floatic is developing a robot solution that automates the process of warehousing and retrieving logistics centers. It is a robot solution that can realize automation without changing the design or structure of the existing logistics center so that it can be competitive in terms of time and operating cost. “We are actively cooperating with fulfillment startups such as Tech Taka and Doo Hands and are developing products that reflect the characteristics of the logistics center field,” said an official of Floatic.

Floatic was founded in 2021 by Naver Labs Robotics interns and attracted the first investment from Naver D2SF after being recognized for its growth potential. It has succeeded in developing the prototype and verified the autonomous driving and picking efficiency, stable interworking with on-site systems, and practical usability in an actual distribution warehouse environment. The startup plans to complete commercialization this year and start a full-fledged business in 2023.

After the first investment in Naver D2SF, both teams have continuously interacted with Naver Labs and sought contact points. Safetics has conducted collaborative robot safety experiments with Naver Labs, and Floatic has moved into ”Naver D2SF @ Bundang’Bundang’ and is continuing close exchanges.

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