The government is moving to take concrete action to rapidly roll out artificial intelligence (AI) technology that people can directly feel in daily life and on industrial sites.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 25th that, as part of the "AI application product rapid commercialization support project (AX-Sprint)" being promoted jointly by 11 government ministries, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Science and ICT, it carried out a call covering all areas of land and transport. As a result, it has finalized a total of 26 products and services that incorporate AI technology, and plans to begin full-scale implementation of the project starting with the signing of agreements.
Launched for the first time this year, the AX-Sprint (sprint) project targets finished products that can go straight to market within a short period of one to two years, unlike existing research and development support that takes a long time. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said it is significant in that it aims to let the general public immediately experience the convenience of artificial intelligence in their lives.
The call ran from Mar. 19 to Apr. 20, divided into two categories: "land and transport" and "roads and mobility." A total of 147 projects were submitted, for an average competition ratio of 5.9 to 1. The government comprehensively reviewed factors such as whether a product could be released to market immediately and whether the public would feel a strong impact, and narrowed the list to 26 final projects (14 for land and transport, 12 for roads and mobility).
A total budget of 75 billion won will be allocated across these projects over the next two years. Support will be split between 16 projects to be unveiled on the market within this year (worth 60 billion won) and 10 projects to be completed by next year (worth 15 billion won).
In the land and transport category, a physical AI-based spatial-intelligence robot will autonomously deliver items inside apartments and offices, adding convenience to daily life. In addition, AI construction robots will be deployed to demolition work at construction sites with high collapse risks to protect worker safety. Contactless measuring devices that analyze the physical signals of train crew or engineers in real time to prevent risk factors in advance are also preparing to enter the market.
In the roads and mobility category, Autonomous Driving safety robots will be deployed at road construction sites to protect workers. Technology that automatically detects potholes and cracks in roads to prevent hazards in advance, and technology that analyzes traffic flow in real time to offer convenience to both drivers and pedestrians, will also be introduced in the field.
Kim Yun-duk, Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), said, "The AX-Sprint project is a 'field-ready AI project' in which developed technologies are swiftly deployed on site to improve the public's quality of life," adding, "We will work with related ministries to ensure thorough follow-up support such as procurement and market access to produce results that the public can feel across all areas of land and transport."