KCC develops automated painting robot

South Korean chemical and auto parts maker KCC Corp. said on Monday that it developed the country's first autonomous painting robot Smart Canvas.

This robot recognizes the painting space with advanced sensors and performs tasks autonomously while moving on horizontal surfaces.

Smart Canvas is the outcome of KCC's development, which began in late 2022, combining artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technologies.

Its biggest advantage is its ability to apply high-quality paint uniformly across a surface. Smart Canvas can paint large areas with a consistent thickness.

The robot uses Lidar technology to recognize and avoid obstacles during the painting process.

It can navigate precisely even in unexpected situations, such as when obstacles appear.

"The biggest advantage is that it ensures stability and quality by performing painting tasks with precision and without shaking," a KCC source explained. "This can enhance work efficiency and productivity, and create a safer working environment for operators," 

KCC expects that the development of Smart Canvas will lead to reduced construction time, increased efficiency in workforce management, and improved quality.

Since painting is a repetitive task, it can be assigned to the robot, allowing employees to focus on other, more productive tasks.

Write to Ji-Hye Min at spop@hankyung.com