Professor Oh Jun-ho - The person who brings Korean robot technology to the world level

2006 was a busy year for Hubo - Han Quoc's first robot with two legs - when the first year was included in Sara's debut album, at the end of the year, she went to the US to test drive high-tech trolley. Segway.

If the Japanese have long been proud of the ' boy ' Asimo, Hubo is the pride of the land of kimchi in particular and the Asian robot industry in general. Behind the rise of world standard of Korean robots, the contribution of a leading expert in automation of Korea Advanced Science and Technology Institute (KAIST). That's Professor Oh Jun-ho - the ' father ' of Hubo robot. He is known to have laid a solid foundation for robots with Korean brands to constantly rise.

Professor Oh Jun-ho
(Photo: vieartificielle)

In the mechanical and automation world in Korea, Professor Oh is recognized as a very dynamic and creative specialist, constantly contributing many practical applications . After being successful with many types of robots such as 4-legged robot and acrobatic robot, impressed by the " pride of the land of the rising sun ", in the beginning of 2002 he started to study robots walking with two legs. My students only have $ 80,000 granted by KAIST. At first, many people even some members of the institute did not dare to hope that the success of the project was invested too ' poorly ', but the 50-year-old expert made critics to be silent because only after 8 The month created the frame of the first humanoid robot body (KHR-1) and within a year this ' kid ' had taken the first steps. Professor Oh's crew continued to erase suspicion when December 2003 released an improved version of KHR-2 (Hubo's body).

The success of the success of an unpopular scientist convinced the Korean government to pour $ 600,000 for Professor Oh's group. With this funding, in just 12 months he basically completed the Hubo robot (KHR-3) with the features of KHR-2 with significantly improved stability. In January 2005, just after 36 months, this doctor who graduated from the University of California (USA) made the world's leading robotics experts admire when completing the first self-adjusting robot in Korea and second in the world. No wonder how Japanese people invest up to $ 300 million in robot technology and ponder over nearly two decades to produce the world's most advanced robotic furnace Asimo.

Not only is it difficult in terms of funding, but in the process of designing Hubo, Professor Oh also encountered many psychological and policy obstacles by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology that are not " salty " with human technology Because it requires a lot of research and development time for many years and huge investment cost. Because of this, many seniors once advised him not to risk developing humanoid robots because he was not an investor nor supported by an industrial corporation. However, it is important with the concept of self-advocacy to achieve success, Professor Oh has tried to overcome and overcome all challenges.

Hubo - the first robot to control a high-tech Segway vehicle.(Photo: vieartificielle )

With his enthusiasm, Professor Oh confidently designed Hubo's body, system structure and sensors, while the algorithmic step was taken by his students. His passion for working and directing his talented student to "give birth " to Hubo robots after only about 3 years with a total budget of less than $ 1 million. The robot is a symbol of high technology level and the emergence of Hubo makes the world more and more confident in the technological power of Korea.

The birth of the first two-legged robot with constantly improved features is a testament to the Korean robotics industry, which has risen slowly but quickly shortened the gap with the giants. ' other. Experts predict that Korean robot technology boat with Professor Oh's direction will soon catch up and be able to surpass the Japanese robot boss in the near future.

Hubo - a human-shaped robot - 1.2 m high and 55 kg weighs can express many emotions, simulating the movements of more than 48 major facial muscles. The camera system in the eyes and artificial intelligence software allows Hubo to see and identify faces, track movements, talk to opposite people with the ability to rotate at a 45-degree angle, and perform many body movements can. After nearly two years of birth, Hubo can now go like a human at a speed of 1.25 km / h and can step up and down stairs - functions that only two Japanese robots have so far made.

Although ' born late, ' but Hubo still has some proud points that the seniors cannot have as independent 10-finger movement. Officially launched on the occasion of Korea hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in November 2005, Hubo then brought the face of the famous scientist Albert Einstein to his fifties. welcome leaders from 21 member economies.

HAPPY