POSCO is embarking on the development of mobile robot technology to enhance worker safety and systematic equipment management.
Kim Do-yoon (right), CEO of WithRobot, and Choi Yong-jun, Head of the Robot Solution Research Group at POSCO Technical Research Institute's Process Research Center, are posing for a commemorative photo with the Smart Wire Robot after signing a business agreement to establish a cooperative system for the development of the Smart Wire Robot. Photo by POSCO
On the 16th, POSCO Technical Research Institute's Process Research Center signed joint research and development agreements with the Robot Solution Research Group, WithRobot, and AIDIN Robotics to develop smart wire robot solutions and quadruped walking robots, respectively.
The smart wire robot, developed in collaboration with WithRobot, is equipped with various sensors such as video, audio, thermal infrared, and LiDAR modules. It moves along a cable like a cable car, monitoring and detecting various accidents occurring in manufacturing sites.
POSCO has continuously strived to identify and improve hazardous factors in workspaces and various equipment failures to build a safer working environment. However, the existing method using fixed surveillance cameras had drawbacks, such as requiring a large number of installations and high installation costs to cover the vast steelworks workspace. To address these issues, POSCO and WithRobot jointly developed a system where video and various sensors can move along relatively inexpensive wires, enabling expanded installation throughout the steelworks.
The smart wire robot developed in 2022 was pilot-installed at POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks' fuel plant, proving effective in detecting conveyor belt failures. To expand its application across the steelworks, POSCO is conducting joint research with WithRobot to understand diverse on-site requirements and implement customized functions.
WithRobot was founded by PhDs from KAIST's Department of Electrical Engineering and Robotics Laboratory. It is a research and development specialized company holding 22 patents in AI edge board hardware development, high-speed signal processing software, and AI network optimization technology.
Kim Do-yoon, CEO of WithRobot, stated, "Thanks to our self-developed AI-embedded board, we were able to quickly implement the functions required by the steelworks. The optimization of the AI network allows calculations to be completed on-site without the need for expensive servers, significantly reducing the overall system cost. This makes it the optimal solution for applications in large spaces like steelworks."
In collaboration with AIDIN Robotics, POSCO is promoting the development of a quadruped walking robot for inspecting steel facilities with limited accessibility. Equipment inspection at steelworks is crucial for preventing various accidents in advance and maintaining production equipment in optimal condition. However, some equipment is difficult for workers to access, posing safety burdens. To resolve this, POSCO plans to develop a quadruped walking robot for inspecting hazardous equipment in cooperation with AIDIN Robotics.
AIDIN Robotics was founded by professors and PhDs from Sungkyunkwan University's Robotics Innovatory Laboratory. The company has independently developed technologies for deploying robots in hazardous equipment and environments difficult for humans to access, including core robotic technologies such as sensing, vision, control, and HW/SW. Based on this experience and know-how, AIDIN Robotics is advancing the development of quadruped walking robots for hazardous equipment inspection in partnership with POSCO.
While accelerating the development of data-driven intelligent mobile robot solutions, POSCO will continue to lead group-level digital transformation to ensure safe working environments and improve productivity.
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