News 1

ETRI Develops Autonomous Vehicle Control Transition Guide for Drivers

Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 6th that 3 types of technologies related to the guideline for safe transition of vehicle control considering the driver’s condition were developed, and that the relevant dataset was released.
Currently, as the autonomous vehicle¹⁾ requires a certain level of intervention by the driver, the user must take control over the vehicle depending on the circumstances. However, the relevant function was realized differently for each auto-maker due to unclear control transition standards. Accordingly, the users lacked understanding and trust on the transition of control on driving on the autonomous vehicle and experienced difficulties in safe driving.
ETRI provided scenarios that can occur in various circumstances of switching control from the perspective of the driver, vehicle, and environment to develop and present the guideline for the human factors of the autonomous vehicle that can be understood easily not only by professionals but also by the general public.
In addition, ETRI developed 3 technologies that can help the transition of control on the autonomous vehicle. These technologies developed by ETRI include the DVE²⁾ Monitoring System that performs real-time monitoring and analysis on the driver, vehicle and driving environment information on whether it is in a state wherein the driver can take control, Co-Pilot Agent (CPA)³⁾ that aids in the communication between the driver and the system for enabling quick and safe transition of control.
AI control transition capability evaluation system on the autonomous vehicle for performing real-time evaluation on the various capabilities of the driver such as context awareness capability and physical reaction, etc. by monitoring and analyzing the preparation for driving and response time, etc.
The guideline developed by the research team will be provided to the relevant agencies and auto-makers and can also be checked through the ETRI Knowledge Sharing Platform. Details on the three types of technologies and dataset developed by ETRI will be available through the ETRI Technology Transfer website.

1) Level 2~3 defined based on the definition of automation level classified by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) on the autonomous vehicle

2) DVE Driver, Vehicle, Environment

3) CPA Co-Pilot Agent

News 2

ETRI Ranks No.5 in the World in Number of Declared SEP(ISO, IEC, ITU)

According to the press released by KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office) on the 10th, the number of declared SEP by ETRI to 3 major international standardization organizations (ISO, IEC, ITU) was announced to be a total of 251 patents, ranking fifth in the world.
Samsung Electronics ranked first with 2,799 declared SEP, followed by Nokia with 2,559EA, Thompson Licensing with 907EA, and Apple with 350EA. Thanks to the remarkable performance by ETRI and domestic companies and agencies, Korea was ranked as the country with the most number of declared SEP. Even when the standard is extended to 5 major international standardization organizations, Korea registered a total of 17,492 declared SEP; thus ranking third highest in the world.
The SEP not only declares the essential patents to international standardization organizations; the essentiality of the patents must also be verified for conformance to the standard specifications for actual acknowledgment as essential patents. Currently, the statistics on the declared SEP are reflected to the declared SEP information of various standardization organizations to be summarized semiannually by the Essential Patent Center of the Korea Intellectual Property Strategy Agency.
ETRI will continue efforts in performing international standardization activities preemptively to secure the original technology for each field and lead the industrial trends.

News 3

ETRI Takes Responsibility for Safety through Digital Twin

The Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 1st that the ceiling rail work has been completed on the entire sections of the power utilities¹⁾ in the underground facility²⁾ for public utilities in Ochang, Cheongju, and one AI robot was installed for test operation.
The installed robot will provide video and thermal images and monitor the temperature, humidity, oxygen, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, etc.
Through this, unmanned and automated inspection & patrol process will be possible to identify the signs of disasters in advance and to respond quickly upon occurrence of accidents.
Especially, the research team explained that this technology can ▲ take preventive actions in the initial stage by recognizing the disaster and risk factors in advance, ▲ respond quickly at the site upon occurrence of disasters by sharing information on the accurate site situation and damage forecast, ▲ support quick and accurate operational command by sharing the situation of the site based on the digital twin technology linked with the fire station, military, and police in jurisdiction.
In addition, the technology can be applied not only to the underground facility for public utilities but also to other various fields such as , subway and underground shopping center, etc., and is expected to be used widely on the safe and smart management. Based on the data analysis result from the test application and requirements from the site, the research team is planning to sophisticate the digital twin technology to expand the range of demonstration area.

1) power utilities Structure constructed as underground tunnel without drilling the road to accommodate multiple lines of power cables

2) underground facility Facility for the common accommodation of underground utilities of the road such as electricity, communication, gas, water supply and sewer pipe, etc.

News 4

ETRI Demonstrates Avatar Sign Language Technology
during the 41st Day of People with Disability

During the 41st Day of People with Disability on the 20th, MSIT (Ministry of Science and ICT) and KCC(Korea Communications Commission) held the “Demonstration of Subtitle & Sign Language AUTO Conversion Technology by Utilizing AI Technology” at the Eroom Center (Yeouido, Seoul).
In this event, KCC and MSIT introduced the “Emotional Expression Service for Supporting the View of Broadcasting for People with Disability” developed by ETRI and the “AUTO Audio-Subtitle Conversion Technology” developed by TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association).
ETRI’s “Avatar Sign Language” is a technology that is expected to be utilized not only through the media platform but also on the guide for social distancing & quarantine according to COVID-19 and guide on the kiosk & entry of hospitals, etc. This technology was previously demonstrated in Chungnam National University Hospital.