[Good Companies Rising] 'Koai' Making 'Kobot,' Environmental Robots for Oil Slicks and Waste on the Sea

Kobot, Autonomous Navigation Like Self-Driving Cars to Remove Pollutants... World's Best Marine Pollution Control Robot
Park Kyung-taek, CEO of Koai: "Pioneering New Markets Expected to Greatly Boost Employment in Related Materials, Machinery, and Process Sectors"
1,437 Marine Pollution Incidents in Last 5 Years, Annual Average of 271 Cases, Pollutant Leakage Volume 1,768,900 Liters

Last September, Park Kyung-taek, CEO of Koai, demonstrated 'KOBOT' at Klang Port, the largest port in Malaysia. Park, the CEO, is on the far left. [Photo by Koai]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The oil spill accident of the Hebei Spirit that occurred on December 7, 2007, off the coast of Taean, Chungnam, can happen again at any time. According to data submitted by the Korea Coast Guard to Rep. Lee Dal-gon of the People Power Party during last month's National Assembly audit, there were 1,437 marine pollution incidents in the past five years, averaging 271 incidents per year. The amount of pollutants spilled reached 1,768,900 liters.

Every time such a large number of marine pollution incidents occur, we cannot expect public volunteer efforts like those during the Taean oil spill accident. To minimize marine environmental pollution, efficient pollutant recovery through rapid dispatch is essential. The most efficient solution emerging as a countermeasure system is the marine oil spill recovery robot 'KOBOT.'

KOBOT is an unmanned oil recovery robot jointly developed by KOAI, a marine pollution control specialist company, in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Korea Maritime and Ocean University, and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). Like an autonomous vehicle, KOBOT navigates on its own to recover oil or pollutants. Previously developed robots were connected to ships or docks via long hoses, making solo operation practically impossible. KOBOT receives coordinates from a drone deployed within about 1 km of the spill site, autonomously locates the contaminated area, detects oil nearby, collects it, and stores it.

'KOBOT' moving to the pier for a demonstration test.
Photo by Koai

Park Kyung-taek, CEO of KOAI, said, "KOBOT is an innovative technology device that combines a water drone, oil skimmer (oil scoop), and recovered oil storage into one unit. It is the world's first and highest-performance robot that operates autonomously without human intervention." He added, "KOAI possesses unique domestic technology and products related to marine pollutant recovery and supplies oil scoops, pollutant analysis equipment, and core technologies to five public institutions including the Korea Coast Guard and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, as well as private companies like Woo Hyun Shipping."

Although numerous technologies are applied to KOBOT, the core technology is the 'nano-treatment technology that achieves extreme superhydrophilicity.' The filter developed using this technology is applied to the oil scoop attached to KOBOT. This filter, made from nano-materials that allow water to pass through but prevent oil from escaping, detects and collects not only oil but also 23 types of harmful chemicals (floating HNS) such as benzene and toluene that are hazardous to human health when floating on the water surface.

After a demonstration at Klang Port, Malaysia's largest port, at the end of September, KOAI sold KOBOT and equipment worth 100 million KRW. Since early this month, supported by Busan City and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency, KOAI has been exhibiting seven types of spill control equipment including KOBOT at the 'ADIPEC 2022' oil and gas exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, until November 3. The KOAI booth is bustling with many buyers eager to see the actual equipment in operation. During ADIPEC, KOAI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and exclusive supply contract with Mohammad Al Barak, CEO of BCI, who has a strong business base in Kuwait and Dubai, exporting KOBOT and spill control equipment worth $130,000 in the first phase.

Park Kyung-taek, CEO of Koai, is conducting an oil recovery test using 'MANBLOCK,' one of the oil recovery devices, at the Kuwait BCI-owned mooring facility on the 4th. Park is on the far right in the photo. Photo by Koai

KOAI was established in 2017 as a joint venture with a capital of 200 million KRW after acquiring technology for an 'Indium thin-film sensor-based marine oil and hazardous substance spill detection device' from the Korea Maritime University Technology Holdings. Starting with only CEO Park, the company now employs eight staff members. KOAI has exported KOBOT and spill control equipment to Japan, Malaysia, and Kuwait. Sales reached 240 million KRW in 2020, 218 million KRW last year, and already doubled last year's sales to 500 million KRW this year.

Next week, KOAI will hold an investment briefing in London, UK, and then immediately participate in the international startup conference 'SLUSH 2022' in Helsinki, Finland. In January next year, KOAI will represent Busan companies at the 'CES 2023' (International Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, USA, aiming to expand its global market.

CEO Park said, "Together with our partner BCI in the Middle East, we are preparing various presentations targeting national oil companies and related businesses in each country, and we are confident of achieving great results." He added, "KOAI's technology and products will replace the existing spill control industry market, pioneer new markets, and create significant employment effects in related materials, machinery, and process fields."