Hyundai Motor has launched a six-month pilot project in Seongbuk District using eco-friendly smart waste collection vehicles based on its ST1 electrified business platform.
The company said April 9 it held a demonstration event on April 8 at the Seoul Civil Defense Education Center in Asia, showcasing smart waste collection operations using the ST1 platform.
During the event, Hyundai Motor demonstrated the collection, loading and transportation of recyclables using two types of ST1-based smart collection vehicles: a dumping type and a moving floor type.
The ST1 dumping-type vehicle features side doors that open and close with an up-and-down sliding mechanism and a low ground clearance, allowing workers to easily load recyclables from the side and unload them with simple switch controls.
The ST1 moving floor-type vehicle allows forward and backward movement of rails on the cargo floor, enabling workers to load and unload recyclables without climbing onto the vehicle, making it suitable for handling heavy materials in confined spaces.
During the pilot, workers also demonstrated the use of the “X-ble Shoulder,” a wearable industrial robot developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics Lab. The device assists upper arm movement, significantly reducing musculoskeletal strain.
Using the eco-friendly ST1 vehicles for waste and recycling collection is expected to reduce air pollution and vehicle noise, improving residential satisfaction and lowering complaints.
The low-floor platform of the ST1 is also designed to improve working conditions for operators who frequently get on and off the vehicle, while smart collection solutions are expected to enhance operational efficiency in waste management.
The pilot follows a memorandum of understanding signed in October last year between Hyundai Motor and Seongbuk District for a smart recycling collection project based on eco-friendly vehicles. The initiative involves collaboration with local governments as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, including a waste collection contractor, a vehicle modification company and a solution developer.
Hyundai Motor plans to operate two ST1-based smart collection vehicles in Seongbuk District through October and expand commercialization and deployment to additional regions based on the results.
A company official said the project is expected to help protect urban environments from air pollution and noise, improve resident satisfaction and contribute to carbon neutrality, adding that the company will continue developing various purpose-built vehicles to deliver customized business solutions.