로보티즈 재난구조용 휴머노이드 로봇 개발 박차

By KH디지털2

Published : March 27, 2014 - 16:31

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로보티즈의 김병수 대표의 꿈은 국내 최초 재난구조용 휴머노이드 로봇을 만드는 것이다.

똘망(THOR-MANG)은 로보티즈의 엑츄에이터(로봇 구동장치)로 만든 휴머노이드 로봇로, 지난 12월 DARPA(Defence Advanced Research Project Agency)가 추진하는 재난구조로봇대회에서 버지니아공대, 펜실베이니아대와 방산업체 Harris와 팀을 이루어 출전해 예선 9위를 차지했다.

김 대표는 코리아헤럴드와의 인터뷰에서, “올해 12월에 열리는 최종 결선에서는 더 힘을 키우고, 속도를 높이는데 집중하겠다”고 말했다.

휴머노이드 로봇 똘망 (코리아헤럴드)

사실 똘망은 지난 대회에서 2개월 앞두고 급하게 투입되었다. 원래 참가 예정이었던 버지니아공대의 또르(THOR)가 기술적인 문제로 출전이 어려워지면서 똘망이 대신 나가게 된 것이다. 똘망은 준비 부족으로 모든 역량을 다 발휘하지 못했다.

김 대표는 “똘망이 다른 로봇보다 작고 가벼워서 드릴을 들어올려 벽을 뚫고 통과하거나, 무거운 밸브를 잠그고, 사다리를 타는 것이 쉽지 않았다”고 말했다.

하지만 차 안에서 하는 미션은 무난히 통과했다. 운전 미션에서는 펜실베이니아대가 만든 알고리즘을 넣었고, 테스크 미션(Task mission)상도 받았다.

“일본 후쿠시마 원전 사태 이후 전세계적으로 재난구조 로봇을 개발해야 한다는 합의가 이뤄지고 있다. 한국도 기존에는 의료용 로봇, 공장자동화, 청소기 로봇 등에 투자를 많이 했지만, 똘망이 대회에 나가면서 재난구조용 로봇산업에 대한 관심이 늘고있다”고 밝혔다.

(코리아헤럴드 신지혜 기자 shinjh@heraldcorp.com)

<관련 영문기사>

Korea may see first disaster relief robot

The chief executive of Korean robot company Robotis hopes his firm will develop the nation’s first humanoid robot capable of disaster relief operations.

And THOR-MANG, the Tactical Hazardous Operations Robot, is his biggest hope.

The humanoid robot took part in the U.S Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Robotics Challenge in December 2013 as part of a collaboration between Robotis and Virginia Tech, the University of Pennsylvania and Harris Corporation, coming ninth in the semifinals.

The competition was created in the wake of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster to promote the development of robots that capable of conducting complex tasks in dangerous environments.

“We will make THOR-MANG more powerful and faster in order to compete in the final stage of the competition this December,” said Kim Byoung-soo, CEO of Robotis in an interview with Korea Herald.

However, two months before the Robotics challenge in 2013, THOR-MANG was urgently deployed after its predecessor, THOR -- created by Virginia Tech -- was unable to compete due to technical issues.

But at the time, THOR-MANG was unable to demonstrate its full capability.

“As the robot was smaller and lighter than others, it could not exert much power,” he said. For instance, it had difficulty in picking up a drill to make a hole in the wall, locking a heavy valve, or climbing up a ladder.

However, THOR-MANG was good at driving. It received an award for the task as the University of Pennsylvania excels in developing driving algorithms, Kim said.

Kim was upbeat about the prospects for robots for disaster relief operations both at home and abroad.

“In the wake of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, there has been global consensus to promote robotic technology for disaster-response operations.”

Domestically, the industry has lost its place as a priority, as it does not directly create jobs or boost the economy.

However, THOR-MANG’s success raised some interest after it competed in the international robotics challenge.

“The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is planning for the investment in the industry.”

More robots will have a place in human life in future, he said.

Robots may not be familiar to ordinary people, but they are used in many areas. Rehabilitation, mine removal, factory automation, national defense and driverless vehicles are examples of this.

“Robotization will be one of the important factors in determining products’ competitiveness down in the future,” he said.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)

로보티즈 재난구조용 휴머노이드 로봇 개발 박차

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