UNIST is spurring innovation to lead the future mobility era in Ulsan, the heart of Korea’s automobile industry.
On November 26, the UNIST Center for Smart Mobility, in collaboration with Ulsan city, has held the official inauguration ceremony for the participating companies’ directors’ council meeting, inviting over 30 small-and midium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture businesses in Ulsan region.
The council plans to revitalize the future mobility-related industries through the operation of various support programs for SMEs and providing regularly scheduled technical exchange meetings, centered on the eight representative technology divisions.
In October 2020, UNIST showcased some of its breakthorugh research achievements at the ‘Korean New Deal! Eco-friendly Future Mobility On-site Visit’ event, which took place at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant. The event, which has been attended by President Moon Jae-in, as well as many distinguished business leaders, government officials, and academic leaders, consisted of the strategies to foster the future car market and various exhibitions, featuring the outstanding achievements of Hyundai Motor Company and UNIST. To this end, UNIST has showcased a total of 7 R&D achievements, thereby displaying the competitiveness of the future mobility.
The first introduced was the Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) by Professor Hungsun Son (Department of Mechanical Engineering). At the event, Professor Son gave an explanation for the current research project, utilizing PAV Pilot Training Simulator, as well as the development status of vehicles, capable of vertical takeoff and landing.
PAV by Professor Hungsun Son is being test-driven by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki. l Image Credit: The Blue House’s Facebook Page
Following this, Professor Cheolhyeon Kwon (Department of Mechanical Engineering) introduced his ongoing research on ultra-compact self-driving EV, capable of delivering safe urban driving. Along with this, an autonomous vehicle, currently being tested on UNIST campus has been showcased at the event. Not only that, an ultra lightweight, high-rigidity 3D-printed electric vehicle by Professor Namhun Kim (Department of Mechanical Engineering) has attracted great attention. It was even test-driven by President Moon Jae-in.
The Department of Design has also introduced some of their personal mobility research achievements, which includes ‘AngGo’ by Professor Hui Sung Lee and ‘Oro Plume’ by Professor Yunwoo Jeong.
AngGo by Professor Hui Sung Lee (Department of Deign) is being test-driven. l Image Credit: The Blue House’s Facebook Page
During the course of the event, Professor Yunwoo Jeong also introduced his 911$ Rescue Drone that has been honored at the international design competition, iF Design Awards 2020. The key to this is that compared to the existing rescue process, it is easy to use and allows quick and safe evacuation and rescue. The main feature is to float 1m above air.
The current research status of hyperloop, namely U-Loop by Professor Joo Hwan Oh (Department of Mechanical Engineering) has also been introduced.
PAV Pilot Training Simulator l Image Credit: The Blue House’s Facebook Page
Meanwhile, UNIST has held the official signboard-hanging ceremony of its newly-established UNIST Center for Smart Mobility in May 2020 to accelerate their efforts to lay the groundwork for leading the future automotive industry. The center is in charge of various research in the field of future mobility, such as Design, Materials, Battery, Components/Modules, Automated Driving, Personal Air Vehicles (PAVs), System Integration, and Mobility-as -a-Service (MaaS).
