[Report] AI and Future Mobility... Visiting 'Dadam Learning Center,' the Cradle of the 4th Industrial Revolution

With a 'chiiiiing' sound, a robot arm with joints like a human lifted a workpiece weighing up to 10 kg smoothly from the floor. It is a multi-joint robot that uses six joints to lift and transport objects on its own or perform assembly tasks using various tools. On the 14th, at the Dadam Future Learning Center of Korea University of Technology and Education, research was being conducted on technology to control the robot so that it can move accurately according to the operator's instructions.

Researcher Ahn Hyung-su of the Future Technology Education Center at Korea University of Technology and Education explained, "The robot arm is equipped with a system that recognizes and controls changes in altitude, tilt, and speed, and algorithms are input to enable the desired tasks to be performed." In actual industrial sites, it can transport workpieces weighing up to 1.5 tons. Researcher Ahn added, "It is not an exaggeration to say that it is used in almost all industrial fields, including semiconductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, and food, because it can move both arms freely like a human."

The Dadam Future Learning Center is a state-of-the-art educational site that educates students and industry workers using new teaching methods based on edutech. It houses cutting-edge engineering education facilities, including intelligent robots, future-type automobiles, smart learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Researcher An Hyeong-su from the Future Technology Education Center at Korea University of Technology and Education is explaining the digital twin-based smart factory integrated control system.

It is also possible to practice designing and manufacturing secondary batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, which are considered future technologies, as well as creating virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), and metaverse (extended virtual world) content. Oh Chang-heon, Director of the Future Education Innovation Office, said, "We have additionally installed hydrogen fuel cell and secondary battery labs and a metaverse studio at the Dadam Future Learning Center."

The hydrogen fuel cell lab is a space equipped with various production and testing equipment for hydrogen fuel cells, allowing learning of the entire process from design to production and testing. Courses such as hydrogen energy production system application experts, production management experts, and biopharmaceutical development will be offered. The secondary battery lab, a space where comprehensive education and experience in lithium secondary battery manufacturing are possible, allows lectures, practical training, and research and development (R&D) through various equipment.

The newly installed extended reality studio enables telepresence lectures by linking real-time hologram shooting with holographic displays. In the meta studio, practical training is conducted on VR, XR, metaverse content production, 3D object creation, and characters (MetaHumans).

Director Oh stated, "Based on the advanced infrastructure of the Dadam Future Learning Center, we will operate education programs for undergraduate and graduate students as well as skill enhancement training for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises in new digital technology fields through the development of core technology convergence curricula."

Future-type Automobile Lab.

The number of external users, including industry workers, is also increasing. Since the second semester of last year, vocational training instructors and industry workers have completed training courses here. Including group visits by high school students, the number of users of the Dadam Future Learning Center reached about 2,000 as of the end of last month. A representative of the Dadam Future Learning Center stated, "For workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, advanced and applied smart factory-related engineering skill enhancement courses are being operated to solve various problems in manufacturing sites related to factory automation, robots, and the Internet of Things (IoT)."

Korea University of Technology and Education, established by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, has aimed to nurture Dadam-type talents who connect technology and people based on the practical education philosophy since its founding. The Dadam Future Learning Center, opened in August last year, is named after Dasan Jeong Yak-yong and Damheon Hong Dae-yong, practical scholars of the late Joseon Dynasty, symbolizing leadership in future engineering education in the 4th industrial revolution era. President Yoo Gil-sang said, "By expanding state-of-the-art labs at the Dadam Future Learning Center, we will further accelerate linked and convergent education in undergraduate programs and skill enhancement training for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises and vocational training instructors."