“STEP-UP,” a wearable firefighting robot equipped with GPS (Image courtesy of the Korea Forest Service)
DAEJEON, Apr. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The Korea Forest Service has announced plans to distribute “STEP-UP,” a wearable firefighting robot equipped with GPS, in areas along the eastern coast that are highly susceptible to large forest fires.
With an investment of 200 million won, the STEP-UP project aims to boost the safety and firefighting capabilities of personnel engaged in wildfire suppression efforts.
Designed similarly to the suit worn by Iron Man in the movies, this wearable technology is intended to bolster the muscular strength of the waist and thighs by up to 39.7%, while reducing muscle fatigue by as much as 43.8%.
This enhancement is expected to significantly improve the mobility and equipment-carrying capacity of firefighting teams, especially on steep terrain.
Equipped with GPS, the robot enables real-time monitoring of movement, aiding in the development of efficient firefighting strategies. The Korea Forest Service is optimistic that this technology will contribute significantly to forest fire management efforts.
Following the Korea Forest Service’s designation of this robot as an innovative product in December last year, the Public Procurement Service included it as a pilot purchase target under the policy-demand innovative product category during a procurement policy meeting held on April 2.
Nam Sung-hyun, the head of the Korea Forest Service, expressed commitment to distributing these robots to specialized wildfire response teams in high-risk areas such as the eastern coast starting this year.
He emphasized the focus on user-centric research and development to uncover projects that provide tangible benefits in the field, as well as supporting the expansion of business opportunities for companies involved.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
