Domestic researchers have utilized Digital Twin technology to enable the effective management of national infrastructure. This is expected to be of great help in preventing disasters and maintaining national infrastructure intelligently and safely.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and KI Co., Ltd. announced on the 28th that they have recently completed ceiling rail construction throughout the entire power tunnel in the Ochang utility tunnel in Cheongju and installed one AI robot to begin full-scale pilot operations.

We plan to further advance our technological capabilities by installing an additional AI robot and expanding its application to other internal sections.

The Cheongju Ochang Common Utility Tunnel is a national critical infrastructure facility managed by the Cheongju City Facilities Management Corporation, which was entrusted by Cheongju City in 2018 and has deployed specialized personnel.

The robot observes video, thermal images, temperature, humidity, oxygen, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, etc., and provides monitoring information to the control center in real time.

The robot is equipped with a lithium-ion battery and can travel 10km on a 30-minute wireless charge. With a wireless charging station at the end of the rail, the wide underground utility tunnel can be inspected without any issues.

Its movements are also intelligent, such as stepping back to reconfirm when it detects abnormal signs.

Previously, utility tunnel workers moved in teams of two every day, and it took more than two and a half hours to conduct inspections and patrols using visual inspection and internal equipment.

AI robots can perform patrols and high-speed inspections in different modes, reducing inspection time to a maximum of 30 minutes.

This will enable the unmanned and automated inspection and patrol processes, allowing for the proactive detection of disaster signs during normal times and effective management, as well as a more rapid response in the event of an accident.

The Cheongju Ochang utility tunnel has applied advanced technology that not only significantly enhances robot performance but also enables data analysis and simulation through integration with digital twin technology.

In particular, the research team explained that this technology can support rapid and accurate operational command through: initial preventive measures through the prior recognition of disaster factors and risk factors; rapid on-site response based on the sharing of accurate on-site situation and damage prediction information when a disaster occurs; and digital twin-based on-site situation information sharing linked with the relevant fire department, military, and police.

The technology developed by ETRI can be applied not only to public utility tunnels but also to various fields such as private utility tunnels, subways, and underground shopping malls, and is expected to be widely used for the safe and intelligent management of complex spaces.

The research team plans to advance digital twin technology and expand the scope of demonstration areas based on data analysis results from pilot applications and field requirements.

This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort between four government ministries—the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy—and Cheongju City and the Cheongju City Facilities Management Corporation to predict potential facility disaster situations and precursors in underground facilities. It was obtained while conducting research for detection and active response.

Meanwhile, KI Co., Ltd., one of the participating organizations, is an ETRI startup that has accumulated technological capabilities encompassing artificial intelligence and robots since 1998 and has secured world-class AI robot technology.

Thanks to this, the project is being recognized as an exemplary case of achieving a virtuous cycle in government R&D by leading the development of an AI robot capable of moving on ceiling rails in utility tunnels.