South Korea aims to become one of the worlds top three robot powerhouses by 2013, a senior government official said.

 

The official added at the same time, South Korea plans to become a country leading the global robot industry by 2018.

 

In line with this, the government mapped out the first intelligent robot basic plan in April 2009, which focuses on creation of preemptive market, enhancement of technology competitiveness and system improvement fostering of manpower, said Kim Jun-dong, director general for energy industries of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

 

In an interview with Korea IT Times, Kim said, First of all, the ministry will actively push ahead with a pilot project to expand demands for robots centering on public institutions, such as learning assistance robots at primary schools and fire-fighting robots at the fire defense headquarters of Daegu.

 

Director General Kim also said that the ministry plans to create massive-scale public demands for robots and build a robot land consisting of a robot experience hall, a robot stadium and a theme park.

 

As a means of enhancing the nations robot technology competitiveness, we will select the five robots _ state-of-the-art manufacture robot, edutainment robot, society safety robot, medical robot and life care robot _ as the top five star brands with bright prospects for market creation, he said.

 

Along with this, the government will intensively support development of robot software, parts and other core technologies, which are essential to secure price competitiveness of robot products, said Kim.

 

In an effort to secure robots high quality, the government has been implementing a quality certification system based on the Robot Law, under which the state certifies function, reliance and safety of new robot products.

 

Related to this, the ministry has prepared a guideline for implementation of the system and selected cleaning robots of Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics as the worlds first robot quality certified products in April 2010, said Kim.

 

To actively foster professional manpower in charge of robots, the government designated and supported the robot research center and a specialized graduate course of robots, he noted.

 

Ripple effects of robot industry

 

When asked about the industrial and economic ripple effects of the domestic robot industry, called the new convergence industry, Kim said, The market volume of the robot industry will grow by an annual average of 34.6from 1.02 trillion won in 2009 to 4 trillion won in 2013.

 

Noting that about 14,000 jobs are expected to be created in the robot industry by 2013, he said, Most jobs will be created in the robot manufacturing and production sectors of hardware, software, parts and contents.

 

During the period from 2009 to 2013, 1,380 jobs are likely to be created in robot design and service concept development sectors; 3,450 jobs in robot software, hardware and parts development; another 3,450 jobs in development of robot service contents; 2,760 jobs in robot manufacture and production, including tests and appraisals; another 2,760 jobs in robot distribution, sales, management and other relevant services.

 

As the scientific and technological ripple effects, we can cite upgrade of robot technology and system through convergence of such various advanced technologies, including machines, electricity, electronics, software, control, communication and materials, he said.

 

Through technology convergences and applications of each sector, we can expand and develop practical applications of relevant technologies, said Kim.

 

Director General Kim also said that the spread of robot technologies to such related industries as automobiles, home appliances, smart home and shipbuilding will accelerate accompanying growth of all industries.

 

Moreover, developed core and common technologies can be used for intelligation of other industrial sectors and such technology spread will positively affect the overall industry, said Kim.

 

On the social and cultural ripple effects of the robot industry, Kim said, The robot industry can be an alternative of national welfare, solving the labor force problem caused by a fall in the birth rate and entry into an aging society. We can also upgrade national competitiveness and brand value by leading the next-generation robot industry.

 

Volume of robot market

 

According to a survey of the robot industry carried out by Korea Association of Robot Industry, the total production of domestic robot companies increased by 23.4from 826.8 billion won in 2008 to 1.02 trillion won in 2009.

 

Of the total, the production of robots in the manufacturing sector, including automobiles, electricity, electronics and semiconductors, rose by 18.6to 832.3 billion won. The rise was mainly attributed to an increase in facility investment, including production automation through robots.

 

In the meantime, service robots soared by 55.6from 48.3 billion won in 2008 to 75.1 billion in 2009. The output is expected to soar from 44.1 billion won in 2007 to some 200 billion won in 2010, Kim said.

 

Production of professional service robots, including robots for border surveillance, went up by 23.3to 15 billion won. Meanwhile, output of individual service robots, including robots for cleaning and education, surged by 66.5to 60.1 billion won.

 

The production in robot parts also soared by 46.4from 76.9 billion won in 2008 to 112.8 billion won in 2009, indicating that the domestic robot industry is showing a balanced growth, said Kim.

 

According to the International Federation of Robotics, the worlds robot market volume is estimated to have grown by 16from the previous year to $9.4 billion in 2008.

 

Commenting that the global robot market for manufacturing is estimated to reach $6.2 billion, Kim said, The comparable market volume is showing a steady annual average growth of 10and is likely to reach some $17.3 billion in 2020.

 

Service robots are also showing a robust growth, reaching some $3 billion in production.

 

Kim said, Professional service robot market is witnessing a high annual average growth of 45.2thanks to spread of robot application to national defense and medical service sectors, as well as convergence with other industries, including automobiles.

 

Individual service robot market, which suffered a year-on-year decline of 15to $300 million in 2006, shifted to an upward trend, reaching $569 million in 2008.

 

Koreas representative robot products

 

Among the nations representative robot products with high global competitiveness are HUBO, EveR and cleaning robots in the individual service robot sector and border surveillance robots in the professional service robot sector.

 

Following the first HUBO, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed HUBO 2. HUBO 2, the worlds third full-sized humanoid robot capable of running, can run 3.6 kilometers per hour (kph) with 30-centimeter strides, with its walking speed improving to 1.8 kph from the 1.2 kph of the previous edition. Both feet of the robot are simultaneously off the ground during running for up to 30 milliseconds.

 

The problem of keeping the robot balanced with both feet off the ground was a daunting challenge for developers in many countries. The KAIST team solved this problem by placing a special sensor in HUBO 2s lower abdomen.

 

The new robot stands at 1.25 meters, the same height as the first HUBO, but is 10 kilograms lighter at 45 kilograms. It can also walk without bending its knees to save substantial energy in operations.

 

It also can grasp objects with five fingers, shake hands and deliver words in sign language.

 

Before HUBO 2, two Japan-made robots - Hondas ASIMO and Toyotas Partner robots - achieved the feat of running.

 

This is a rapid and remarkable improvement in Koreas short history in robotics engineering, Kim said. KAIST began researching for humanoid robots in 2002, led by professor Oh Jun-ho, and developed the first prototype, KHR-1, in 2003, without a head and arms.

 

In 2005, KAIST released the worlds first android head to be mounted on HUBO, in a joint project with Texas-based Hanson Robotics during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Seoul. The robot was dubbed Albert Einstein HUBO, as the head was an exact recreation of the late physicist.

 

The achievements by HUBO 2 will pave the way for Korea to emerge as a global leader in humanoid robotics. While Japan is still leader in the field, Koreas development pace is narrowing the gap, he said.

 

Japan first developed a humanoid robot in 1971, but it took 32 years before ASIMO became the worlds first running robot in 2003.

 

EveR-1 is a Korean android capable of realistic facial expressions to express happiness, anger, sadness and pleasure. EveR-1s android skin is made from a silicon jelly that feels similar to human skin. Resembling a woman in her 20s, EveR-1 is 160 centimeters tall.

 

The android has 15 sensors in its robotic face to allow it to interpret the face of a person before it, and 35 miniature motors to create expression and properly look back at a person talking to it. The EveR-1 has a basic vocabulary of 400 works, and can have simple verbal exchanges with humans.

 

The robot can serve to provide information in department stores and museums or read stories to children. It is capable of both education and entertainment functions, Kim explained.

 

Among cleaning robots are ICLEBO manufactured by Yujin Robot Co., Tango Robot Vacuum Cleaner produced by Samsung Electronics and RoboKing made by LG.

 

In the meantime, Samsung Techwin developed a surveillance robot system, which can keep strict watch, conduct surveillance, and detect fire by using stationary-type and mobile-type robots.