They bring the prototypes that they painstakingly created with expense and time, asking to 'sprinkle water and get dust on them.' Corporations shake the carefully crafted devices up, down, left, and right, exposing them to temperatures from minus 80 degrees to plus 220 degrees. They also vary humidity and pressure. Exposing products to such 'extreme environments' is commonplace at the Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) located in the Songdo radio industry cluster in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.
At the Songdo radio industry cluster visited on the 4th, there were about 400 pieces of equipment available to measure the performance and reliability of devices using 'radio waves.' These devices are used to test a variety of equipment within chambers designed to prevent external radio waves from entering and the generated waves from escaping.
RAPA established the radio industry cluster to concentrate support functions for the radio industry so corporations can test products all at once. Last year alone, 652 corporations visited this place, receiving 3,310 technology supports from the 16 testing rooms available.
Divided broadly into 'radio measurement' and 'reliability evaluation' areas, this site enables performance verification of commonly considered 'radio devices' such as set-top boxes, laptops, Wi-Fi devices, and antennas. Whether it's products like gas meters, massagers, automatic door sensors, or next-generation equipment such as robots and drones, if they use 'radio waves,' it's possible to accumulate references on how they operate in various environments.
Not only can the performance of everyday Internet of Things (IoT) devices be measured here, but large equipment can also be evaluated. In places like the wireless power transmission technology verification lab, various equipment installed in 'electric vehicles,' which are gradually transforming into electronic devices, can be tested.
In the large electromagnetic shielding chamber measuring 6286.5㎥ (25.4x22.5x11m), the signal transceiver of satellites operating in outer space underwent quality testing. It was also at this facility that it was discovered that radio waves from 5th generation mobile communication (5G) base stations caused malfunctions in the LiDAR sensor of subway platform safety doors.
Setting up such measurement equipment and implementing testing environments incurs significant expense. Indeed, there were many measuring devices worth hundreds of millions of won at the radio industry cluster. Park Se-ho, head of the RAPA IoT Technology Support Center, noted, "For small and medium-sized enterprises, there are practical limitations in creating environments that can precisely measure quality. It is difficult to build the necessary references for deliveries and launches due to this. He further explained that 'the radio industry cluster, which operates with government support, conducts tests at low prices for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and also helps find solutions by addressing discovered issues together.'
Domestic corporations leverage the technological references measured here for business-to-business (B2B) and government-targeted (B2G) project expansions. Thus, the foundational strength of 'the radio industry,' a key pillar for future growth sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, is being built here.
◇ From extreme environment testing to future technology development
At the Songdo radio industry cluster, there are just as many spaces implementing the 'challenging environments' of real-world use as there are precision measurement testing rooms. The reliability environment and mechanical testing rooms simulate conditions such as rain, low temperature, high temperature, high pressure, and low pressure. The operation of products in dusty electrical panels, as well as during the packaging and delivery process, can also be tested. Products may be repeatedly dropped from a height of 2.2m, or shaken in all directions to apply shock.
In such environments, the operation of products is measured in real-time. This process is aimed at identifying potential issues that may arise before products are delivered to consumers and clients.
Research on future radio technologies is also underway. In the 5G and 6th generation mobile communication (6G) test lab, proof of concept (PoC) for antennas and modules can be conducted. Recently, the performance verification of the Doosan Electronics '5G beamforming antenna module' was completed here, and the performance evaluation of the LG Uplus '6G intelligent reflecting surface (RIS)' equipment is in progress.
To launch electronic devices domestically, the 'interference generated by electromagnetic waves' must be below a certain standard. The radio industry cluster performs measurements that can ensure the performance of these devices. The electromagnetic waves generated by the device are measured from all directions at 3m and 10m chambers to assess stability.
The radio industry cluster is also referred to as 'the essential course for supplies to the three mobile telecommunications companies.' This is because it is necessary to receive technical verification guaranteed by RAPA to supply communication equipment to SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus. This serves as proof of the high level of industry trust in the quality evaluations conducted here.
Center head Park stated, "It is the only facility that conducts performance verifications for IoT devices supplied to mobile telecommunications companies," and explained, "It is also the only place providing a chamber to measure antenna performance in the metropolitan area, so many corporations seek it out." He emphasized that efforts would continue to improve the domestic radio industry, including the establishment of a new chamber capable of measuring the performance of large antennas used in the defense and satellite sectors by this December.