Robots to be actively utilized for PyeongChang Winter Olympics—'Professor Oh Jun-ho' appointed as director-general
Published2016.07.12 11:38Minister Joo Hyung-hwan Presents Appointment Certificates to Director-General and Director of Support Group
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Joo Hyung-hwan) presented an appointment certificate on July 11 at the Government Sejong Building to Professor Oh Jun-ho from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), who was appointed as director-general of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics Robot Support Group.
The support group was established to effectively utilize robots in various fields related to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and support the successful hosting of the Olympics at a time when cross-government support for the successful hosting of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics is gaining momentum.
The group plans to perform planning, execution, and management roles across all aspects of Olympic robot utilization, including providing promotional guidance services through robots deployed at airports, venues, and press centers, supporting security and guard operations through robots positioned at venues and athlete villages, and hosting robot competitions linked to winter Olympic events. Professor Oh Jun-ho from KAIST, a world-renowned robotics authority, will serve as director-general overseeing overall direction and supervision, and an office will be established within the Korea Robotics Industry Promotion Agency to support these efforts.
<HUBO, developed at KAIST>
Professor Oh Jun-ho developed the humanoid robot 'HUBO' and won first place at the finals of the International Disaster Response Robot Competition (DARPA Robotics Challenge) held in the United States last year, defeating renowned teams from around the world.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan emphasized, "We are making cross-government efforts so that the PyeongChang Winter Olympics does not remain a one-time event but becomes an opportunity for national development." He added, "In particular, robots can be utilized in various fields at the Olympics including event promotion, operational support, and various events, and if effectively deployed in the right places at the right times, they are expected to contribute to the successful hosting of the Olympics. In this regard, the launch of the robot support group, which will systematically and comprehensively support robot utilization at the PyeongChang Olympics, holds great significance."
Meanwhile, the support group plans to develop a comprehensive master plan for robot utilization at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics by mid-August and begin full-scale operations.
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