Incheon Port Logistics Center to Utilize Drones for Inventory Inspection

Incheon New Port Hanjin Incheon Container Terminal Photo by Incheon Port Authority

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon Port Authority has signed an agreement with Brookhurst Garage Co., Ltd., a company specializing in autonomous flight drones, to develop an automated inventory inspection service for logistics warehouses using drones, and will begin full-scale technology development.

According to the authority on the 16th, this project, which involves a public-private joint technology development fund of 450 million KRW, was promoted after being selected last November as a "purchase-conditional new product development project joint investment type task" led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The goal is to develop a service that can be efficiently utilized even in flat-stacked warehouses where cargo is stored on the floor rather than on shelves, with completion planned by November next year.

Until now, inventory inspections in logistics warehouses have relied on manpower, requiring products on shelves to be brought down to the ground or people to climb onto shelves, causing difficulties in securing work efficiency and safety.

Through this project, the authority expects to improve the economic efficiency and effectiveness of warehouse operations by reducing inventory inspection costs, enhancing data accuracy, and visualizing inventory locations.

In particular, considering the special situation of "flat-stacked warehouses," they plan to develop an indoor fully autonomous drone capable of automatic battery replacement, and develop automated service technology optimized for domestic warehouse conditions through AI-based barcode and label recognition and linkage with the Warehouse Management System (WMS).

Hong Seongso, Vice President of the Construction Division at Incheon Port Authority, stated, "The development of an automated inventory inspection service for logistics warehouses combining drone and AI technology will become a new growth engine for building smart ports," adding, "We will actively carry out the government's Korean New Deal realization tasks in preparation for the post-COVID era to help private companies leap forward."