Hyundai Steel's '4-Legged Walking Robot' Wins Top Award in Process Safety at World Steel Association

Hyundai Steel is enhancing worker safety by deploying a quadruped robot (SPOT) equipped with AI technology to hazardous tasks in steel production sites. The quadruped robot (SPOT) is operating gas valve opening and closing at the site. Photo by Hyundai Steel

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Hyundai Steel's continuous investment in safety has been recognized by the global steel industry.

On the 18th, Hyundai Steel announced that it won the grand prize at the World Steel Association's Safety and Health Best Practice Contest for its case of "Replacing High-Risk Work Using the Quadruped Robot (SPOT)."

The World Steel Association emphasized the significance of the award by highlighting the application of smart safety devices using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to hazardous work sites, greatly enhancing the potential to protect lives from accident risks.

Currently, Hyundai Steel is conducting on-site application tests using the quadruped robot (SPOT) for tasks such as opening and closing oxygen gas valves and routine inspections of hazardous areas. In the future, by immediately deploying the quadruped robot to dangerous zones during emergencies, it is expected to prevent secondary disasters such as fires and explosions, thereby ensuring worker safety.

Additionally, Hyundai Steel plans to continuously enhance the on-site utilization of the quadruped robot by equipping it with IoT (Internet of Things) technology and AI-integrated gas sensors and cameras.

By integrating these technologies, the quadruped robot will be able to conduct routine inspections in gas hazard areas and detect dangerous situations early, such as fires and chemical leaks. It will also replace inspections in confined spaces with risks of gas poisoning and suffocation, as well as check workers' use of safety protective gear, thereby creating a safer working environment.

These tasks are expected to be possible because the quadruped robot is equipped with state-of-the-art cameras capable of thermal imaging, 30x zoom, 360˚ rotation shooting, and 170˚ panoramic video shooting, allowing precise assessment of situations in accident-prone areas.

A Hyundai Steel official said, "We recognize safety as the top priority and are integrating various technologies into the field. We will not be satisfied with this and will continue to strive to create even safer workplaces."

Meanwhile, at this year's World Steel Association Annual Meeting, Hyundai Steel shortlisted three projects as final candidates in the communication and innovation categories, including the "Kidzania Experience Center Operation," started to inform internal and external stakeholders about the company and steel sustainability as part of ESG activities, "Development of High-Ductility 1.5GPa Hot Stamping Steel Sheet," and "Development of Electric Vehicle Reducer Heat Deformation Reduction and High-Durability Alloy Steel."

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