[Announcement+] Saltworks Selected for National Project on 5G-Based AR Aviation Maintenance System

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Saltworks, a developer of virtual reality technology-based training systems, is set to accelerate the development of a 5G-based system for aircraft maintenance. The introduction of 5G is expected to bring innovation to the remote maintenance field, as network speeds become 20 times faster than LTE and latency is reduced to one-tenth.

Saltworks announced on the 26th that its project, “Development of a 5G-based Aircraft Maintenance System Supporting Augmented Reality (AR) Method for Aircraft Technicians,” currently under research and development, has been selected as a national project promoted by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).

This project is part of the government’s Knowledge Service Industry Core Technology Development and Manufacturing Service Convergence Technology Development initiatives. In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it aims to implement an immediate aircraft maintenance and remote maintenance operation system under the 5G infrastructure. The system development will apply the electronic technical manual (ITEM) system used in aircraft operation and maintenance, as well as AR smart glasses.

The total R&D budget is 4.5352 billion KRW, with the government contributing 3.3 billion KRW and the remainder funded by the private sector. Saltworks is leading the project, with four companies including Korea Airport Service participating in joint development.

The detailed tasks include: ▲ Designing a 5G-based AR aircraft maintenance support system linked with a comprehensive control management system for aircraft maintenance, operation, quality, and materials ▲ Developing AR maintenance services based on detection and tracking of actual aircraft equipment and parts ▲ Developing an electronic technical manual interworking support system for aircraft maintenance and overhaul (MRO), among six other items.

The domestic aircraft maintenance and overhaul market is currently estimated at 2.3 trillion KRW. Of this, about half, 1.2 trillion KRW, is spent on overseas maintenance. Incheon International Airport, which has risen to become a global leading international airport, is also experiencing increased delays and cancellations due to aircraft maintenance. Although travel has been restricted recently due to COVID-19, a significant increase in aircraft operations is expected in the future, making the securing of skilled maintenance personnel urgent.

Accordingly, the aircraft maintenance industry has recently been adopting augmented reality technology to overcome constraints of time and space. This allows not only the use of AR remote support technology but also addresses skill gaps among maintenance personnel and enables efficient management of maintenance processes.

A Saltworks official stated, “By developing systems utilizing augmented reality technology, even low-skilled maintenance workers can respond to on-site tasks within a short period, effectively resolving issues related to maintenance personnel shortages and safety.” He added, “We will secure a leading position in the AR and VR fields in this sector and develop it into a solid future growth engine.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.