Decade Award
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on June 3 that the Center for Intelligent Robotics was successful in commercializing core technologies related to intelligent robots that were developed over the last 10 years.
According to KIST, the Center for Intelligent Robotics has succeeded in distributing 20 units of Elder Care Robot “SILBOT 3.0,” Info Service & Performer Robot “MERO S,” and a software development kit (SDK) to not only the nation’s major universities and research centers, but also overseas facilities. These facilities include senior welfare centers in Denmark, elementary schools and universities in India, and the Russian State University. The distribution has been taken care of through Robocare, a start-up enterprise established by KIST. Information about intelligent robots and related core technologies are available at digital library “Robotorium” (www.robotorium.re.kr).
SILBOT 3.0 is a platform that can meet economic feasibility and the versatility in the intelligent robot industry. The platform has been strengthened with SDK and related systems. It can be used for educating children and providing services to the elderly. It can also be utilized as a material for research purposes, providing more diverse expressions and a system development environment (SDE).
The MERO S was developed to study and use communication between humans and robots. It is ideal for service guides and research, and it can also be used to maximize interactions with autistic children. More advanced robots are going to be released soon.
The most notable characteristic of hardware is a freely-moving joint motor, which allows robots to move like humans, and enables plenty of facial expressions. When approach by people, those robots stop moving momentarily, or circumvent people after figuring out where they are. A 360-degree rotating, speedy, accurate, and low noise omniwheel was used. In addition, more than 30 verified software technologies were used, including a technique that allows free conversation with users and a method that enables face-to-face and voice communications. Those technologies are optimized for the development of applications for service robots, which are used for providing English education, training old people to improve their cognitive ability, or educating children with special needs.
The SDK makes it possible for software developers who are not used to robots to implement their own applications via computers without robots, using a graphic simulator provided in a kit. Through the robot motion editor where motion capture technology is mounted, the simulated movement of robots can be created automatically in an easy and fast manner. On top of that, using the convenient user environment of a “Mission Planner” (an intelligent robot software platform), it is possible to easily program a process for robots to accomplish missions.