[No Filter Robot] "Bipeds Are the Answer in Tight Spaces"...A Robot That Walks Underwater

Professor Jo Baekgyu's Kookmin University team wins Excellence Award at the 2026 Korea Robotics Society Annual Conference "RED Show"

"There is significant potential for use as a reconnaissance and exploration robot. In particular, there is clear demand for waterproof robots in sites where cleaning operations must also be performed."

Cho Baekgyu, a professor at Kookmin University, is introducing a modular bipedal robot that won the Red Show Excellence Award. Photo by Paek Jongmin, Tech Specialist

On February 6, at the 2026 Korea Robot Comprehensive Conference (KRoC) held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, Professor Cho Baekgyu of Kookmin University, who received the Red Show Excellence Award (President's Award from the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement) in the general category, made this statement immediately after winning the award. The Red Show is a technology demonstration program that focuses on exhibiting and demonstrating actual robot systems developed by domestic universities and research institutes during the conference period, evaluating technical completeness and practical applicability.

The "modular bipedal robot operable in both ground and underwater environments" presented by Professor Cho's research team is not merely an experimental platform but a robot aimed at real industrial sites.

This robot stands on two legs, but it does not have the traditional humanoid form. Its structure resembles a quadruped robot with the upper body removed, yet it is able to walk using only its two legs. Professor Cho demonstrated the robot's balance control performance in real time at the site, encouraging people to "try pushing it with your foot." Even when subjected to external shocks, the robot staggered but recovered its posture and maintained balance.

Professor Cho commented, "While it is true that quadrupeds are more stable, we opted for a modular approach." The robot can be transformed into a quadruped robot by combining two units. In narrow spaces, it operates as a biped, and when necessary, it merges to secure stability.

The robot's most notable feature is its waterproof design. Because it can operate in underwater environments, it demonstrates potential for use in settings where land and water coexist, especially in industrial sites that require both cleaning and inspection simultaneously. It is also described as suitable for workplaces with significant dust or contamination.

Professor Cho stated, "We are currently discussing its potential applications with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power," referring to the possibility of deploying it in special environments such as power plant facility inspections. He explained, "In extremely confined areas, conventional quadruped robots have difficulty entering. The bipedal structure is actually advantageous in such cases."

The concept of expansion is even more flexible. Professor Cho added, "It does not have to combine with the same robot. It can be integrated with a wheeled platform, or a robotic arm can be mounted on top to unload materials directly. Depending on what is attached, it can become an entirely different mission robot."

Professor Cho is currently engaged in retrofitting work on the robot. An upgrade to improve mobility using a wheel module is underway, and in the future, the plan is to independently develop actuators to achieve both waterproofing and enhanced output performance.

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