Gwanak-gu Robot Safety Patrol Protects Women's Safe Return Home

Akgu Selected as Finalist in Science and Technology-Based Community Problem Solving Project... Aiming for Nighttime Safety of Women and Residents through Development of Urban Autonomous Patrol Robot System

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) announced that its project, "Autonomous Patrol-Based Safe Patrol Service for Women Living Alone in Residential Areas," has been finally selected among 10 projects under the "Science and Technology Utilization Resident-Engaged Local Problem Solving Project," jointly hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The "Science and Technology Utilization Resident-Engaged Local Problem Solving Project" is a collaborative government initiative that creates tangible local problem-solving outcomes by leveraging scientific and technological expertise through communication among local governments, residents, and researchers with technological capabilities.

Each project receives approximately 500 million KRW in funding, and after R&D for technology development by researchers and demonstration by local governments, smart city services are provided to residents.

Reflecting the characteristics of the region, which ranks first nationwide in women living alone households (27.44%), the district set the goal of ensuring safe nighttime return paths for women and residents and planned the "Autonomous Patrol-Based Safe Patrol Service for Women Living Alone in Residential Areas," which was finally selected.

Additionally, during the planning process, a problem-planning living lab involving a researcher consortium composed of Incheon National University, Hanyang University, Mando, and SKT, along with local residents, was held about 10 times in advance to actively collect residents' opinions.

The finally selected "Autonomous Patrol-Based Safe Patrol Service for Women Living Alone in Residential Areas" is a system development project where robots autonomously patrol urban slopes and narrow unpaved alleys, and when dangerous situations such as crimes are detected, the relevant video is linked to the CCTV control center.

Once implemented, the service is expected to contribute to preventing criminal incidents in dangerous areas such as dark alleys on women’s and residents’ return paths and residential areas, enabling rapid response in emergencies.

This year, the district plans to conduct system development R&D together with the researcher consortium and residents, and in 2022, select safety-vulnerable areas within the region to pilot the service.

Park Junhee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, stated, "We will actively promote our district’s unique women’s safety smart city project reflecting the region’s characteristic of having the highest number of women living alone, creating an environment where women and residents can live safely. We will make every effort to ensure that this project becomes a successful model for creating a safe smart city that solves local problems from the residents’ perspective."