Korean Robot Transforming into Table and Chairs Wins Top Category Award at International Competition

KIST Dr. Kwak Sona's Research Team Develops Modular Robot Furniture 'Obot'

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Oh Sang-rok) announced on the 18th that Dr. Gwak Sona's research team won the top prize in the 'Innovative Prototype' category at the Robot Design Competition held at the International Conference on Social Robots (ICSR 2024) in Odense, Denmark, with their modular robot furniture system oOoBOT (Obot).

Obot, a robotic furniture that provides services suitable for the situation through transformation (reduction and expansion) and movement. Photo by KIST

Obot is a multifunctional robot furniture system designed to maximize space utilization in ultra-compact living environments. It was developed to meet the growing demands of single-person households and ultra-small living spaces in modern society.

This system can be transformed into a table, chair, storage box, cart, and more, with freely adjustable size and shape. When not in use, it can be stored in a minimized state, enabling efficient use even in limited spaces. KIST explained that it is a solution to space shortage problems that can improve quality of life.

oOoBOT can transform into tables, chairs, carts, etc., as needed, and can flexibly adjust the available space according to the situation. Photo by KIST

Dr. Gwak Sona stated, “Obot is an innovative solution to ultra-compact living issues, offering new ways to utilize space not only for young people and single-person households but also for various user groups. We aim to contribute to building an environmentally friendly living environment through efficient use of resources and sustainable design.”

Dr. Kang Dahyun added, “We plan to continue additional research to expand its application for various purposes such as disaster relief and child growth support.” This research was conducted with the support of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Robot Industry Technology Development Project (2MRE620).

Now in its 16th year, ICSR is a leading international conference linked with the prestigious journal in the field of social robots, the International Journal of Social Robotics.

Teams from major research institutions worldwide participated in this fiercely competitive event, including renowned research teams from the University of Pennsylvania and Oregon State University. The finalist teams showcased the innovation and practicality of their works through presentations and demonstrations during the conference, and the final winning team was selected through a comprehensive evaluation by the judging panel.