The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on June 26 the successful field validation of its "extreme smart observation system" in Antarctica. This breakthrough enables year-round polar data collection without requiring personnel to be physically present in the harsh environment.
The system consists of five observation stations in Antarctica, autonomous robots equipped with high-resolution ground radar and low-temperature power management, and a control hub and an Internet of Everything (IoET)-based wireless network. The robots navigate safely, and transmit real-time data to a base 50 km away.
A research team led by Dr. Lee Joo-han (KOPRI), in collaboration with Dr. Baek Seung-jae (KIOST) and Dr. Choi Young-ho (KIRI), conducted tests over two phases (2023–2025) at the Jangbogo Scientific Research Station.
The collected data will be integrated into KOPRI’s big data platform and made publicly available.