Journalist

Kim Pil-soo
  • Boston Dynamics Spot robot dog assists UK nuclear decommissioning work
    Boston Dynamics' Spot robot dog assists UK nuclear decommissioning work SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Four-legged robot Spot, developed by the Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Boston Dynamics, is being deployed in the United Kingdom to assist with nuclear facility decommissioning. Sellafield Ltd., a state-owned company operating under the U.K.’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, recently disclosed that it is using Spot at nuclear cleanup sites. Sellafield oversees the dismantling of nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste across the country. Many of its worksites restrict human access due to radiation hazards and complex internal layouts. To address these risks, the company introduced a robot-based inspection system, deploying Spot to conduct remote surveys and gather data in areas that are difficult or unsafe for workers to enter. According to Sellafield, the robot has been equipped with sensors tailored to nuclear environments and can navigate rough terrain and complex structures, including staircases. Spot captures 360-degree video and performs 3D scans to map site conditions, while operators monitor operations remotely through live video feeds. The robot is also used for radiation characterization, measuring gamma and alpha radiation to determine contamination levels. It has recently completed trial operations involving swab sampling inside facilities — tasks previously carried out directly by workers — significantly reducing personnel exposure to hazards, Sellafield said. The company added that Spot can operate on site for longer periods than human teams, helping accelerate overall decommissioning work. Reduced reliance on protective equipment has also cut waste volumes, while access to real-time data has improved decision-making and inspection consistency. Sellafield said deployment of the robot resulted from collaboration between Boston Dynamics and the U.K.’s Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration, enabling operations to expand from initial trials to routine use. Trial operations began in 2021, with successful testing in complex environments completed in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Spot was deployed in high-radiation zones to collect inspection imagery and radiation data. In 2025, Sellafield conducted what it described as the U.K. nuclear sector’s first remote robot demonstration outside a licensed plant boundary, confirming the potential for fully remote operations that separate workers from hazardous sites. Sellafield said it plans to continue working with partners to expand Spot’s capabilities through additional sensor packages and deploy the robot more widely for radiation mapping and environmental surveys. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 10:12:04
  • Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter to Step Down at End of Month
    Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter to Step Down at End of Month Hyundai Motor Group robotics unit Boston Dynamics said CEO Robert Playter will step down at the end of this month after leading the company for seven years. According to the auto industry and foreign media reports on Tuesday, Playter told employees in an email sent the previous day that he will leave the CEO post on Feb. 27. Until the board appoints a successor, CFO Amanda McMaster will serve as interim CEO. Playter, an MIT graduate, joined Boston Dynamics in 1994 — the company’s third year — as vice president of engineering and helped lay the groundwork for its robotics business through 2012. He later served as Google’s director of robotics from 2013 to 2018, then returned to Boston Dynamics as CEO in 2019. Hyundai Motor Group acquired Boston Dynamics in 2020, a year after he took the top job. Playter is widely credited with shifting Boston Dynamics from a small research-focused organization into a commercial robotics company best known for Spot, its four-legged robot. The company also unveiled a model of its humanoid robot Atlas at CES 2026 last month as it prepares for commercialization, and said field training is underway. In his email to employees, Playter said he was proud of the company’s “remarkable achievements” over the past year, adding that it had re-established Atlas’ leadership in a fast-growing sector and strengthened strategic partnerships with Hyundai and Google DeepMind. He said the company has built a strong position and is ready for its next phase of growth, adding that a new CEO will bring the experience and energy needed for that next step.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 10:06:00
  • Korea Automobile Testing and Research Institute, Bumhan Fuel Cell to cooperate on liquid hydrogen mobility
    Korea Automobile Testing and Research Institute, Bumhan Fuel Cell to cooperate on liquid hydrogen mobility Korea Automobile Testing and Research Institute is partnering with Bumhan Fuel Cell to strengthen global competitiveness in liquid hydrogen-based hydrogen mobility technology. KATRI said Tuesday it signed a memorandum of understanding with Bumhan Fuel Cell on Feb. 10 at its headquarters in Pungse-myeon, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, to cooperate on developing and demonstrating end-to-end technologies for using liquid hydrogen. The agreement aims to secure liquid hydrogen mobility technologies that enable large-scale storage and transport of hydrogen, which the organizations described as a key energy source for achieving carbon neutrality. Under the MOU, the two sides plan to advance technologies for storing, refueling and using liquid hydrogen, and to help expand the liquid hydrogen mobility market in both defense and civilian sectors. Their cooperation will include joint technology development and demonstration to support commercialization; expanding applications across the hydrogen industry, including military and civilian uses; building related infrastructure and providing testing, evaluation and demonstration support; and developing domestic and overseas networks and identifying joint research projects. KATRI said continued cooperation with Bumhan Fuel Cell is expected to accelerate efforts to strengthen global competitiveness across the broader hydrogen mobility industry and open new markets. "Hydrogen is a leading eco-friendly energy source, and liquid hydrogen technology is an innovative technology that can contribute to improving energy self-sufficiency and diversifying supply chains through large-scale storage and transport," KATRI President Jin said. "Based on the hydrogen mobility capabilities held by both organizations, we will work actively to secure a clear technological edge across the liquid hydrogen value chain and to create, expand and grow the market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:54:00
  • Asiana Airlines to boost China flights 20 percent amid growing two-way tourism
    Asiana Airlines to boost China flights 20 percent amid growing two-way tourism SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Asiana Airlines will increase capacity on its China routes by about 20 percent from late March as travel demand between South Korea and China continues to recover. The carrier said Tuesday it will add 28 weekly flights from the winter schedule starting March 29, bringing total operations to 161 flights a week across 18 China routes. Asiana will resume daily services on the Incheon–Chengdu and Incheon–Chongqing routes, both suspended during the winter season, beginning March 29. The airline will also expand frequencies on several major routes. Flights between Incheon and Beijing will increase to 20 per week from 17, while Incheon–Dalian services will operate daily morning flights and add three afternoon services, bringing the total to 10 per week. Incheon–Tianjin flights will rise to seven weekly from three, and Incheon–Nanjing will increase to seven from six. Further increases are scheduled for May, with Incheon–Changchun services rising to nine weekly flights from seven starting May 6, and Incheon–Yanji increasing to eight weekly from seven from May 8. Asiana said the expansion reflects China’s decision to extend visa-free entry for South Korean travelers through the end of this year and continued growth in travel demand. Following the introduction of mutual visa-free policies, about 3.16 million South Koreans visited China in 2025, up roughly 37 percent from a year earlier, while 5.79 million Chinese travelers visited South Korea, an 18.5 percent increase, according to the airline. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 09:30:35
  • KAI signs deals with Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1 to develop and integrate aircraft weapons
    KAI signs deals with Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1 to develop and integrate aircraft weapons 한국항공우주산업(KAI)은 LIG넥스원, 한화에어로스페이스와 함께 K-방산의 기술 경쟁력을 높이고 수출시장 확대를 위한 전략적 협력을 강화한다. Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, said Tuesday it signed separate memorandums of understanding with LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace to develop and integrate domestically made aircraft weapons and to jointly market exports aimed at boosting the export competitiveness of the KF-21 and FA-50. The agreements were signed at the third World Defense Show underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, KAI said. Under the MOUs, the companies will expand cooperation on joint technical reviews and systems integration for air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons for the KF-21 and FA-50, diversify their weapons portfolios and strengthen joint marketing. KAI said the cooperation is expected to help ensure stable execution of systems development projects led by the Agency for Defense Development, including long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground guided missiles, and to build a weapons data link between the KF-21’s AESA radar and guided missiles to secure technology at a global top-tier level. KAI said close coordination between the country’s only aircraft systems integrator and leading domestic equipment and weapons makers will support package exports that combine South Korean aircraft platforms such as the KF-21 and FA-50 with South Korean-made weapons, while joint marketing is intended to further strengthen competitiveness and expand export markets. KAI noted that Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries prefer package proposals that integrate aircraft platforms with equipment and weapons, calling the partnership a step toward entering the regional market. “KF-21 and FA-50 are symbols of ‘Team Korea’ in K-defense, built through the efforts of many domestic partners in their respective specialties,” KAI CEO Cha Jae Byung said. “As trust in K-defense technology rises, overseas customers have recently been asking for Korean packages covering not only aircraft platforms but overall operating systems, so joint marketing with domestic defense companies will be effective in expanding K-defense exports.” Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae Il said he is confident the companies will meet their goals for aircraft weapons development through “synergy” between Hanwha’s experience in missile development tasks and KAI’s fighter systems integration capabilities. He said the effort will help win global customers’ trust and contribute to sustainable growth for K-defense exports. LIG Nex1 CEO Shin Ik Hyun said the company will work with KAI so the partnership leads to discovering new export projects and developing next-generation solutions, benefiting both companies and the broader South Korean defense industry.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:30:16
  • Autonomous A2Z Releases Free Brand Typeface ‘A2Z Font’
    Autonomous A2Z Releases Free Brand Typeface ‘A2Z Font’ Autonomous A2Z said Tuesday it has developed a proprietary typeface, “A2Z Font,” reflecting its brand philosophy and will distribute it for free. The company said it created the font as part of a project under its slogan, “From start to finish, writing every moment,” aimed at extending its brand experience beyond technology into everyday life. Autonomous A2Z said it views the typeface not as a simple design element but as a “visual language spoken by the brand,” and refined it for natural use across different content environments. A2Z Font is a gothic-style typeface marked by an asymmetrical balance created by curves and diagonals. The soft curves are meant to convey the flexibility of an autonomous driving experience moving smoothly through city streets, while the restrained diagonals are intended to express the company’s pride in steadily advancing, precise technology and a clear direction toward the future. The company said it also treated letter spacing and margins as part of the design to improve readability. By avoiding excessive density and leaving space, it said, the structure reflects values of possibility that can accommodate change and expansion, while conveying visual stability and trust and a brand stance of technology blending naturally into daily life. A2Z Font was produced in nine weights for use in both headlines and body text: seven for body copy and two for titles. It supports 2,780 basic Korean characters and 94 English letters and numerals. The font is released under the Open Font License, allowing both individuals and companies to use it commercially. Autonomous A2Z said the approach aligns with its view that autonomous driving technology should be easy for more people to experience in everyday life. The font is available for download on the company’s website and the font platform Noonnu, and the company said it plans to expand distribution channels. CEO Han Ji Hyeong said, “A2Z Font refines into a visual language Autonomous A2Z’s thinking and attitude of seeking balance between people and the environment, rather than putting technology at the center.” He added, “We will continue to expand the brand experience in various ways.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:21:00
  • Asiana Airlines to Boost China Flights 20% as Travel Demand Rises
    Asiana Airlines to Boost China Flights 20% as Travel Demand Rises Asiana Airlines will expand service on its China routes by 20% to match rising travel between South Korea and China. The carrier said Tuesday it will add 28 weekly flights from March 29 compared with the winter schedule, operating a total of 18 routes with 161 flights a week. Asiana will resume daily service on the Incheon-Chengdu and Incheon-Chongqing routes, which were suspended during the winter period, starting March 29. Chengdu and Chongqing are popular with South Korean travelers, including visits to a panda base and the birthplace of mala cuisine. The Incheon-Chengdu flight will depart Incheon International Airport at 8:00 p.m. and arrive at Chengdu Tianfu Airport at 11:00 p.m. local time. The return flight will leave Chengdu at 12:10 a.m. local time and arrive at Incheon at 5:10 a.m. The Incheon-Chongqing flight will depart Incheon at 9:55 p.m. and arrive in Chongqing at 1:00 a.m. local time the next day; the return will depart Chongqing at 2:00 a.m. local time and arrive at Incheon at 6:25 a.m. Both routes will use 188-seat A321neo aircraft. Asiana will also increase frequencies on major China routes: Incheon-Beijing will rise to 20 flights a week from 17. Incheon-Dalian will operate 10 flights a week by running the morning flight daily and adding three afternoon flights. Incheon-Tianjin will increase to seven flights a week from three, and Incheon-Nanjing will increase to seven from six. Further increases are planned in May: Incheon-Changchun will rise to nine flights a week from seven starting May 6, and Incheon-Yanji will increase to eight from seven starting May 8. Asiana said it decided on the expansion to respond to market changes, citing the extension of China’s visa-free policy for South Koreans through the end of this year and continued growth in South Korean demand to visit China. The airline said it has also expanded sales and marketing in China as demand has risen for trips to South Korea for K-culture experiences and shopping after South Korea introduced visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists. Asiana said it launched an official, dedicated direct-sales channel on Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, on Feb. 2. It also said that in November it ran a live-commerce event for Singles’ Day with Fliggy, Alibaba Group’s online travel platform, drawing 500,000 visitors that day. After the two governments introduced visa-free policies, 3.16 million South Korean travelers visited China in 2025, up about 37% from a year earlier, the airline said. The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea rose 18.5% to 5.79 million. An Asiana official said the airline expects broader demand, including for expanded economic and cultural cooperation, following the visa-free policies. The official said Asiana will continue increasing capacity to help strengthen ties between the two countries. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:09:00
  • Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot aids U.K. nuclear decommissioning
    Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot aids U.K. nuclear decommissioning Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Boston Dynamics’ four-legged robot Spot is being used in the U.K. as a helper for nuclear facility decommissioning work. Industry officials said Sellafield, a state-owned company under the U.K. nuclear decommissioning authority, recently disclosed that it is using Spot at nuclear cleanup sites. Sellafield is responsible for decommissioning nuclear facilities in the U.K. and managing radioactive waste. Many of its worksites are high-risk areas where access is limited because of radiation and complex internal structures. Precise inspections require accurate data collection, but keeping workers safe has remained a challenge. Sellafield said it introduced a robot-based inspection system and is using Spot to collect data and conduct remote checks in areas that are difficult for people to enter. “Spot deployed on site is equipped with various sensing sensors and functions tailored to the nuclear facility environment, and its mobility allows it to move reliably even within complex structures, including rough terrain and stairs,” Sellafield said. It added that Spot captures 360-degree video and performs 3D LiDAR scanning to map site structures, while managers can monitor conditions remotely through real-time video streaming. Sellafield said Spot is carrying out “radiation characterization” by measuring gamma and alpha radiation to confirm the presence of radioactive material. It also recently completed a trial of sample collection, or swabbing, to check for radiation contamination inside facilities. Sellafield said these tasks previously required workers to enter the area, and using Spot has significantly reduced exposure to risk. The company said Spot can remain on site longer than people and that overall decommissioning work has accelerated since the robot was introduced. Sellafield also said reduced use of personal protective equipment has lowered waste, and that access to high-quality real-time data has improved decision-making speed. It added that consistent, repeatable inspections have boosted operational efficiency. Sellafield said the project was carried out through close cooperation among Boston Dynamics, companies developing site-specific robot solutions, systems integration specialists and the U.K. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration, known as RAICo. It said the partnership enabled stable operations from trials through phased expansion. Sellafield said it began trial operations with Spot in 2021 and verified its use in complex environments in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, it used Spot for inspections in high-risk radiation zones, collecting high-quality images and radiation data. In 2025, it said it successfully conducted a remote demonstration of Spot outside a power plant licensed area for the first time in the U.K. nuclear sector, confirming the potential for fully remote work that separates workers from the site. Sellafield said it plans to work with partners to add new sensor packs to Spot and deploy it for broader tasks, including radiation mapping and environmental characterization.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:03:00
  • KAEMS Converts 19 Contract Workers to Full-Time Employees in Largest Move Yet
    KAEMS Converts 19 Contract Workers to Full-Time Employees in Largest Move Yet KAEMS, a subsidiary of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), said Monday it has converted 19 contract workers to full-time employees as of Feb. 1 after a comprehensive evaluation. The company said it is the largest such conversion since its founding. KAEMS said the decision was based not on length of service but on an objective review that considered work performance, job competency, contribution to the organization and growth potential. The company said the process will help it secure key personnel and strengthen a sustainable workforce model. Because KAEMS carries out projects on a project-by-project basis, it brings in specialized staff in stages. The company said it offers full-time opportunities to workers whose performance and capabilities have been proven, aiming to improve job stability, boost organizational commitment and build long-term technical competitiveness. Chief Executive Bae Gi Hong said, "Fair talent selection based on performance and capability is directly tied to the company’s sustainable growth." He added, "We will actively improve the dual structure in the interest of employment stability and expand these efforts to ensure sustainable management."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 17:33:00
  • T’way Air to Launch Incheon-Jakarta Route in April, First for South Korean LCCs
    T’way Air to Launch Incheon-Jakarta Route in April, First for South Korean LCCs T’way Air said Monday it has opened reservations for its upcoming Incheon-Jakarta service, becoming the first South Korean low-cost carrier to launch the route. The airline plans to begin flights on April 29, operating five times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It will use an Airbus A330-300 with 347 seats, including 12 business-class and 335 economy seats. Flights will depart Incheon International Airport at 3:10 p.m. and arrive at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 8:10 p.m. local time. Return flights will leave Jakarta at 9:50 p.m. and arrive at Incheon at 7:05 a.m. the next day. Flight time is about 7 hours, 10 minutes. A T’way Air official said the schedule opening will improve access to major cities in Southeast Asia and added that the airline will continue to prioritize safe operations while working to improve customer convenience. T’way Air said it has been expanding its overseas network across Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Japan, Central Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America. The airline said it is strengthening competitiveness by adding more medium- and long-haul routes and plans to keep diversifying its network strategically.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 16:24:18