Neubility, an intelligent robot service platform company led by CEO Sangmin Lee, announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Smart City Busan to demonstrate a “Robot Deployment Pilot Project” aimed at building a smart and safe city in Busan Eco Delta Smart City National Pilot City (hereinafter “Busan National Pilot City”) using autonomous patrol robots.

Neubility has evolved its well-known outdoor autonomous driving technology—originally developed for delivery robots—into “Physical AI,” an integrated hardware-software solution. Since 2023, the company has applied this technology to patrol and security operations. After beginning full-scale sales in 2024, Neubility achieved more than fourfold revenue growth within one year, proving strong market potential. Through this MOU, Neubility plans to link its already validated outdoor patrol robot service with the robot infrastructure of Busan National Pilot City, establishing a reference model that can expand to other local governments and various private development projects.

Busan National Pilot City is built upon three core platforms—Digital City, Augmented City, and Robot City—and aims to implement ten innovative services, including “robot-based lifestyle innovation” and “smart safety,” directly within a real urban environment. Smart City Busan, a special-purpose corporation (SPC) jointly funded by the public and private sectors, plays a key role in combining private-sector technologies and business models with public urban infrastructure to create sustainable, profitable smart city services.

As part of this robot deployment pilot project, Neubility will provide its outdoor autonomous patrol robots, remote monitoring technology, and operational expertise. Smart City Busan will supply demonstration spaces within Busan National Pilot City and operate a resident-participatory living lab. Together, they aim to create a virtuous cycle in which data collected by robots operating in the field becomes a valuable resource for further improving city services.

Neubility’s patrol robots are designed specifically for outdoor operation and can navigate reliably even in challenging conditions—such as rain, snow, fog, or nighttime. The robots offer AI-based anomaly and hazard detection, real-time video streaming, and remote monitoring capabilities. Busan plans to integrate these functions with its digital safety system to gradually expand citizen-focused services, such as monitoring vulnerable areas for crime, enhancing nighttime pedestrian safety, and patrolling parks and waterfront spaces.

CEO Sangmin Lee stated, “Over the past one to two years, Neubility has proven both our business viability and technological capabilities by operating outdoor patrol and security robots in real-world settings. A patrol robot is not just a mobile camera—it is core urban infrastructure that collects and analyzes city-wide data to enhance safety. In partnership with Smart City Busan, we will work to scale this model across municipalities nationwide and into various private development projects.”

Lee Gye-hyung, CEO of Smart City Busan and head of the project, added, “Robotics and AI technology will become essential infrastructure for future urban life. This demonstration goes beyond a simple technology showcase—it is the process of creating a robot service model that can operate in citizens’ everyday lives. This initiative will help Busan lead not only Korea but the global smart city standards of the future.”

Meanwhile, Neubility aims to become an intelligent robot service platform company spanning residential, urban, and industrial environments. Beyond its patrol robot, the company is developing various forms of Physical AI robots, including quadruped robots capable of navigating stairs, slopes, and trails, as well as carrier-type robots supporting outdoor logistics.