01
Development of unmanned vehicle technologies
An unmanned vehicle is a vehicle that recognizes the external environment on its own without human help, decides the situation, and performs its mission. A drone is a typical vehicle. It is expected to create a new driving force in various fields such as agriculture and transportation as it can replace humans in jobs that require a long time.
In response to the surge in demand for unmanned vehicles, KARI supports the development of common technologies applicable to various types of vehicles and technology demonstration vehicles capable of high-level integrated operation in multiple environments of land, sea, and air. Additionally, it supports the development of UTM (UAV Traffic Management) technologies to monitor and control traffic of low-altitude UAVs. It also supports small UAV base technology to improve the performance of small UAVs and small UAV technology linked to PPI (Public Procurement of Innovation).
The main goal is to secure innovative, original technologies that can take an early lead in the next-generation unmanned vehicle market and increase technological competitiveness by developing a system for integrated operation, such as cooperation, docking-undocking of heterogeneous multiple unmanned vehicles.
02
Expanded technology transfer to related business
As the number of unmanned vehicles companies continues to increase, KARI is gradually expanding the targets for technology transfer by regularly identifying companies' needs for technology transfer during each project. Moreover, it plans to support and utilize the conversion of original technologies developed by the project into products and services by linking to commercialization and start-up support programs implemented by other agencies.
As the demand for unmanned vehicles capable of performing high-level intelligent missions is expected to grow rapidly, KARI plans to focus on securing innovative technologies that can take an early lead in next-generation markets by developing integrated operations that can overcome the constraints of the operating environment.
Unmanned Vehicle Core Technology Development Program Office
KARI’s Unmanned Vehicle Core Technology Development Program Office aims to secure innovative core technologies and enhance technical competitiveness by developing foundational technologies applicable to land, sea, and air domains. It also focuses on establishing an operational system based on autonomous collaboration among diverse unmanned platforms.
- Project Objective
Secure innovative foundational technologies to lead the next-generation unmanned vehicle market and enhance competitiveness
- Business Period/Budget
2020.6~2027.5(7) Phase 1(20~22) / Phase 2(23~27) KRW 149.54 billion (national expense)
- Subproject 1
Development of Common Foundational Technologies for Unmanned Vehicles
Including shared components applicable to land, sea, and air platforms, and platform-specific parts derived from shared core technologies
- Subproject 2
Development of Demonstrators for Integrated Operation
To verify the effectiveness and performance of newly developed systems and validate methodologies and applied technologies through operational testing
Implementation Framework
- ICT and the Program Steering Committee
- Under the Unmanned Vehicle Core Technology Development Program Office (KARI)
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- Specialized research teams focus on navigation and perception
- Sensing technologies
- Propulsion and mobility
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- Communication and security
- Human-vehicle interfaces
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- Autonomous intelligence
- System hardware
- System integration
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- Autonomous cooperation
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- Air-ground integration
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- Maritime integration
03
Key Initiatives of the Unmanned Vehicle Program Office
KARI is leading efforts to develop common foundational technologies across six major technical domains applicable to land, sea, and air unmanned platforms. In parallel, it is building integrated operational demonstrators that apply these technologies in autonomous cooperation scenarios involving multiple heterogeneous unmanned systems, spanning air-ground and maritime composite operations. These initiatives are aimed at validating technology performance and facilitating real-world applications.
(Category 1) Development of Core Foundational Technologies for Unmanned Vehicles
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| Classification | Technology Definition | Implementation Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Perception and Sensing | Detection, analysis, and processing of external information via sensors | (Navigation Research Team): Develops precision navigation, guidance, and obstacle avoidance technologies for operations in indoor and non-line-of-sight environments |
| (Sensor Research Team): Focuses on enhancing mission equipment performance and signal processing technologies for effective operation in indoor and obstructed environments | ||
| Communications | Enables information exchange between operators and vehicles, and among vehicles themselves | (Research Team): Develops highly reliable communications for command and mission data, as well as secure communication protocols |
| Autonomous Intelligence | Empowers unmanned vehicles to independently perceive and process situational data | (Research Team): Develops intelligent algorithms and technologies for collaborative operation among multiple heterogeneous unmanned systems |
| Propulsion Systems | Electric propulsion-based mobility systems | (Task Group): Develops high-power electric motors, energy management systems, and distributed electric propulsion technologies |
| Human-Machine Interface (HMI) | Communication technologies between humans and unmanned vehicles | (Research Team): Develops collaboration technologies that consider human cognitive limitations and the technical maturity of the system |
| System Integration | Processes and hardware for unmanned vehicle development | (Hardware Research Team) Develops technologies applying multifunctional and biomimetic structures with 3D printing technique |
| (Task Group) Establishes a development and integrated design system that allows easy application and verification of new technologies |
(Category 2) Development of Integrated Operational Demonstrators
- Autonomous Cooperative Systems
Integration Across Land, Sea, and Air Domains
Establishment of a Technological Base for Cross-Domain Operation
- Technologies for cooperative operation in heterogeneous land, sea, and air environments
- Direct ad-hoc communication networks between unmanned vehicles
- Distributed processing technologies across unmanned systems
- Swarm operation with autonomous intelligence
- Retrofit and development of ground UGVs, unmanned ships, UAVs, and drones for autonomous swarm-based missions
- Air-Ground Hybrid Type
Precision Collaboration
Development of Interoperable Docking Technologies Across Heterogeneous Systems
- Integrated operation technologies for air-ground unmanned vehicles involving docking and undocking procedures
- Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) transport UAV
- Total weight class of 250 kg
- Autonomous delivery UGV (droid-type)
- 50 kg class
- With detachable drive and delivery modules
- Maritime Hybrid Type
Domain Expansion
Extended Collaborative Operations on and Below the Sea Surface
- Integrated operation of maritime hybrid unmanned vehicles
- Launch and recovery between maritime unmanned vehicles
- Underwater digital communication network
- Long-duration collaborative operation technologies among maritime unmanned systems
- Integrated system combining unmanned surface vessels, PC-AUVs (Propulsion-Controlled Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), and BC-AUVs (Buoyancy-Controlled Autonomous Underwater Vehicles)