In Seoul, South Korea, we partnered with two non-profit organizations, Share with the Homeless and the Korea Abandoned Animal Welfare Association, to explore how Irra, our utility rover, could support fundraising activities in public spaces.
The donation drives took place in Hongdae, one of Seoul’s most energetic districts known for its youth culture, live music, and street performances. This was the perfect environment to test how an unmanned ground vehicle could engage people in a way that traditional fundraising often struggles to achieve.
We customized Irra for the campaign by programming its LED display to show a rotating slideshow of up to 20 images for each NGO, highlighting their work and activities. Alongside the visuals, Irra broadcast pre-recorded announcements in Korean language using four different AI-generated voices through its programmable outputs.
Irra operates in multiple interactive modes. In announcement mode, it roams the streets while playing a slideshow and delivering a public announcement, introducing the non-profit and its mission. When a pedestrian comes nearby, Irra switches to approach mode, moving closer to the individual. At this point, it displays a specific image relevant to the appeal and uses its pan-and-tilt camera to maintain eye contact, making the interaction feel more personal and engaging. The combination of movement, voice, visuals, and “attention tracking” created a unique, human-like experience that encouraged people to stop and listen.
The results were highly encouraging. Irra consistently drew attention, with many people taking photos and videos of the interaction. Compared to traditional human fundraisers, the rover’s novelty and interactive features led to noticeably stronger engagement and more donations.
You can see the campaign in action in the video below. Our fundraising campaigns ain’t over yet. We are continuing our effort to raise more funds for these non-profit outfits.
