Four technologies of KRISO selected among Top 100 National R&D Excellence Achievements for 2020

- Four technologies from three fields, including mechanical/materials, energy/environmental, and convergence -

□ On the 26th, the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) announced that four of its technologies had been selected among the Top 100 National R&D Excellence Achievements for 2020.

□ Since 2006, the Ministry of Science and ICT has selected and released a list of its Top 100 National R&D Excellence Achievements for the year in an attempt to increase public awareness of the role of science and technology and boost the morale and self-esteem of scientists and engineers.

□ Among KRISO's research achievements, two technologies in mechanical/materials engineering, one technology in energy/environmental engineering, and one technology in convergence made the list of the Top 100 National R&D Excellence Achievements for 2020, which was released on the 26th.

□ In mechanical/materials engineering, the country's first autonomous unmanned vessel that can conduct offshore tasks and its demonstration in actual waters were selected. This invention is of great significance in that it is the country's first unmanned vessel developed using domestic technology that can perform marine missions.

This vessel is capable of autonomous detection and tracking of obstacles to avoid collisions and is significantly differentiated from other vessels of similar kind in that it allows high-speed operation with a maximum speed of 45 knots at Sea Condition 4 (wave heights of 1.25m-2.5m).

□ In energy/environmental engineering, the technology for hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) accident management to ensure cleaner and safer seas made the list. In an attempt to minimize the damage from HNS spill accidents, KRISO has developed a system that can predict the spreading pattern of HNS in the air and sea and set a danger zone accordingly and an unmanned remote system that can monitor HNS accident sites for the first time in Korea.

This technology is viewed as a comprehensive management system that is capable of governing the full-cycle HNS accident management process, from prevention, to response, to recovery. It is expected to make a significant contribution to laying the groundwork for the country's accident response system.

□ In convergence, the world's first buoyancy support system for ships to minimize ship damage in cases of accident was selected. The buoyancy support system for ships was developed for the purpose of minimizing human losses when a ship accident occurs. The technology ensures that people aboard can have sufficient time to safely escape when the ship is structurally damaged, thereby minimizing the resultant environmental damage and property losses.

Previously in September, this system was selected as New Marine and Fishery Technology for the First Half of 2020 in recognition of its technical and economic benefits, achieved by the application of 3D laser scanning technology and its design to use the fire main already installed in the ship.

□ Booki Kim, the President of KRISO, said, "I am so proud that our institute's four technologies from three fields of mechanical/materials, energy/environmental, and convergence have made the list. We will continue to keep up the good work not only in these three fields but also in all other fields through proactive R&D efforts and thus make a significant contribution to industrial growth as the country's only government-funded research institute dedicated to ships and ocean engineering.

□ The technologies selected as the Top 100 National R&D Excellence Achievements for this year will be granted certificates from the Minister of Science and ICT and additional points in project and institution assessments in accordance with the relevant regulations.