Vol. 6 [Alumni News] Dr. Youngmok Yun (ME '17)'s AI Robot Startup, Contoro Works with Coupang

Coupang announced on April 14 (local time) that it has invested in Contoro, an AI robotics startup based in Austin, Texas. It is also exploring the possibility of a pilot deployment at its logistics hubs in Korea. (ET News)

Founder: Dr. Youngmok Yun (ME ’17)

• Contoro’s CEO, Youngmok Yun (ME ’17), earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin with support from Korean government and NASA scholarships. (Global Epic)
• Building on technology developed at Harmonic Bionics, he founded Contoro in February 2022 with the goal of bringing more than a decade of research in human–machine collaboration into the logistics industry. (Global Epic)

Core Technology

• The system uses robotic arms remotely operated by human workers to unload cargo from trucks and containers. (ET News)
• Its proprietary DuoGrasp Gripper employs an articulated mechanism that grips boxes simultaneously from both sides, enabling it to handle cargo of varying shapes and weights with ease. In some deployments, it has achieved a 99% task success rate. (Global Epic)
• Rather than full autonomy, the system is based on an augmented intelligence model that combines human judgment with robotic execution. (Global Epic)

What the Coupang Partnership Signals

• While Coupang is a global company incorporated in the United States, Korea remains its primary market. Integrating Contoro’s technology into its in-house logistics network—supporting services such as Rocket Delivery and Dawn Delivery—could significantly enhance fulfillment capabilities. (Global Epic)
• Interim CEO Harold Rogers stated at the Semaphore World Economy event in Washington, D.C., that “Coupang plays a central role in connecting technological collaboration across Korea, the United States, and Asia.” (ET News; Global Epic)
• As of 2026, the company is preparing for pilot operations at logistics centers in Korea, with the outcome expected to serve as a key inflection point for potential expansion across Asia. (Global Epic)
• Coupang noted that the partnership aligns with the direction of the “Korea–U.S. Technology Prosperity Agreement.” (ET News) Signed by President Trump in October 2024, the agreement aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in future technologies such as AI, space, and quantum computing, and Contoro is drawing attention as one of its first real-world implementations. (Global Epic)

(Sources: ET News ; Global epic )