The Process Research Center of the POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) recently entered into a collaborative research and development (R&D) agreement with Robot Solution Research Group WithRobot and Adin Robotics.
The goal of this partnership is to jointly develop a smart wire robot solution and a quadruped walking robot, respectively.
The smart wire robot, which is being developed in collaboration with WithRobot, is designed with various sensor modules, including video, sound, thermal infrared, and LIDAR. This robot moves along a rope, similar to a cable car, in order to monitor and detect various accidents that may occur in manufacturing sites.
POSCO has been committed to creating a safer work environment by continuously identifying and mitigating risk factors in workspaces and addressing equipment failures in advance. However, the traditional method of using fixed surveillance cameras has limitations, such as requiring a large number of installations and incurring high costs, especially in large steelworks spaces.
To overcome these challenges, POSCO, in partnership with WithRobot, aims to expand the deployment of smart wire robots throughout their steelworks facilities. This innovative approach allows for the movement of images and various types of sensors along relatively inexpensive wires, reducing both installation costs and the number of cameras required.
In 2022, a pilot installation of the smart wire robot took place at POSCO's Gwangyang steel mill fuel plant, successfully detecting conveyor belt failures. In order to apply robots to all steelworks operations, POSCO is conducting research to implement customized functions based on the specific needs identified through joint collaboration with WithRobot.
Smart wire robots are optimized for artificial intelligence networks, enabling on-site calculations without the need for expensive servers," said Kim Do-yoon, the CEO of WithRobot. "This significantly reduces the overall system cost, making it an ideal solution for large spaces like steel mills."
Additionally, the partnership with Aethon Robotics focuses on the development of a quadruped walking robot for facility inspection. This robot will be utilized to assess steel facilities that are difficult to access, ensuring worker safety and maintaining optimal production conditions.
Meanwhile, POSCO plans to accelerate the development of intelligent mobile robot solutions based on data. This strategic approach aims to lead the digital transformation across the organization, enhancing both workplace safety and productivity.
