The research team first plans to improve all snow removal devices at Air Force bases to come with both manned and unmanned capabilities. (image: ROKAF 18th Fighter Wing)
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – A South Korean research team will embark on a project to develop a system that can clear the snow from airport runways without requiring human labor.
The Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials announced on Tuesday that it will begin research on developing an unmanned snow removal system for runways, including remotely controlled vehicles and platooning technology.
The research team first plans to improve all snow removal devices at Air Force bases to come with both manned and unmanned capabilities.
The team will then develop remotely controlled vehicles, sensors that can be used in extreme weather, and obstacle detection for self-driving vehicles.
A total of 3.8 billion won (US$3.2 million) will be invested in the project, which is expected to wrap up by 2022.
“Snow removal in the winter is one of the critical components of maintaining readiness posture at all times to protect our territorial space,” said Maj. Kong Byeong-shil from the ROK Air Force Headquarters.
“We expect that technology from the Fourth Industrial Revolution will support our service members and relieve them of operational fatigue.”
The research will be supported by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and other industrial and academic professionals.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
