EVW-1: 자율 로봇용 범용 엘리베이터 인터페이스

For autonomous robots to work inside buildings, moving between floors is essential, but the problem of calling/boarding elevators has been a major obstacle. Previously, linking robots to elevators required modifying the building's elevator control system or establishing communication links, which was very costly, posed significant security hurdles, and had compatibility issues between elevator manufacturers.

As a result, robots were limited to operating on a single floor or unable to move to other floors without human assistance. In particular, existing buildings lacked elevator IoT infrastructure, which greatly restricted the introduction of robots."A way for robots to get on and off elevators on their own"was needed.

The greatest advantage of EVW-1 is its versatility, allowing robots to handle all elevator brands/models simply by attaching it to existing elevator panels. With its attach-and-operate design, it can be installed in minutes without specialized construction, and immediately transforms the elevator panel into a robot-compatible system.

The robot communicates with the EVW-1 via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth to send floor movement commands, and the EVW-1 device uses its own motor/mechanism to press the corresponding button to operate the elevator. Therefore, no elevator modification or security approval is required, and it is compatible with any building and any robot.

Originally developed for construction site material handling robots, it has now evolved into a universal solution that can be applied to building delivery robots, service robots, humanoid robots, etc. By removing elevator obstacles when introducing robot services,"A future where robots move freely vertically"is accelerated, which is a differentiating point.

Smart building managers, logistics/delivery robot operators, and construction companies are the main entities that will actively adopt this device. For example, hotel or apartment management offices can install it for robot room service/delivery, or logistics warehouses/hospitals can use it for inter-floor transport robots.

In addition, robot manufacturers may bundle or recommend EVW-1 with their robot solutions and sell it in a B2B2B format. From a business perspective, the main methods are B2B direct sales (installing multiple units per building) and SI projects (robot + elevator package).

In the public sector, it can also be purchased for use in autonomous mail delivery and government building patrol robots. If it becomes the elevator standard for future buildings, construction companies are expected to include it in new constructions.

EVW-1 can be applied to any building with elevators, regardless of country or region. Software updates can support new robot protocols, allowing the market to be expanded through partnerships with various robot companies.

Currently, it uses a button-pressing method, but in the future, the technology can be expanded to include touchscreen panel operation or models that support ultra-high-speed elevators. There is also the possibility of expanding to other infrastructure interfaces such as escalators and door interfaces.

In terms of regulations, there are no major obstacles as long as safety standards for attaching additional devices to building facilities are met, and safety has already been verified in several pilots with the support of Incheon Startup Park. Demand is expected to arise from all over the world thanks to the macro trends of expanding last-mile delivery and increasing unmanned services, and the market potential is significantly large compared to the company size, which is noteworthy.

At CES 2026, EVW-1 attracted great attention as an innovative example in the smart city/robotics field. Former Microsoft Vice President Steven Sinofsky said in his blog, *"EVW-1 was my favorite robotics demo at this year's CES,"*"Even a small robot like a robot vacuum cleaner could freely move up and down the elevator thanks to this device."he praised.

Industry experts evaluate it as"A practical approach to integrating robots without changing the infrastructure,"giving high marks for removing a major obstacle to the introduction of robots. In terms of completeness, it is considered *"a very simple yet clever solution,"* and its practicality has already been proven by being applied to several demonstration sites in Incheon, Korea.

Market expectations are high, especially in the field of construction site robots, where initial demand is being created as it is regarded as an essential kit, and“A key to accelerating the robot era”There are many positive views. However, some point out what would happen if elevator manufacturers respond with their own standardization, but the EVW-1 approach is expected to be the mainstream for the time being due to the overwhelming number of existing buildings.

Winning the CES Innovation Award (Smart Communities category) has raised the status of this startup, and“Korean innovation that accurately addresses real-world problems”is another evaluation.