[LAB Search] Leading AI Semiconductor Hardware Technology... Professor Park Woo-chan's Research Team at Sejong University

The Media Processor research team in the Department of Computer Engineering at Sejong University, led by Woochan Park, has introduced the world's first sound tracing semiconductor hardware (HW) technology that combines real-time ray tracing technology with 3D spatial audio technology. This ultimate hyper-realistic 3D spatial audio technology can be utilized in metaverse, extended reality (XR), mixed reality (MR), and gaming fields.

Professor Park Woo-chan of Sejong University (second from the left in the front row) and members of the Media Processor research team in the Department of Computer Engineering. [Photo by Sejong University]

Professor Park is a domestic and international authority in the GPU field and developed the world's first real-time ray tracing GPU semiconductor technology for mobile devices 15 years ago. The research team presented a paper at 'Siggraph Asia 2023,' the most prestigious premium conference in the computer graphics field, and has currently established Exarion, a faculty startup company at Sejong University, to discuss commercialization with global companies.

This technology tracks in real time the paths through which sound is transmitted in three-dimensional space, including reflection, transmission, and diffraction between the sound source and the listener. Because it can reflect changes in the positions of the sound source and listener, 3D terrain, and material in real time, it can realize hyper-realistic 3D spatial audio. This is similar to the audio ray tracing of Vision Pro, Apple’s recently released mixed reality device.

Professor Park’s team developed sound tracing software (SW) that achieves lightweight and optimization levels suitable for smartphones and HMDs. Through this, they won first place in the ‘ICT Challenge 2023’ hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and received the Director Award of the Information and Communication Industry Promotion Agency at the 'XR Device Content Makerthon Contest.'

Currently, Professor Park’s team is conducting research on real-time artificial intelligence semiconductor HW. The ultimate goal of the hyper-realistic GPU is to process real-time graphics at the level of movies like ‘Transformers’ or ‘Avatar.’ Based on this, they are developing real-time dehazing semiconductor HW, which can be applied in various fields such as surveillance cameras, autonomous vehicles, medical imaging, and military.

Professor Park said, "Innovative research and development involve much pain and tremendous effort," adding, "The research team is doing its best to produce world-class research results, intellectual property, and commercialization, as well as to nurture global talent and create global unicorn companies.”