[SeoulTech x IT Donga Joint Project] The global enterprise collaboration program is a project supported by the Small and Medium Venture Business Administration, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship, and 11 global companies to support promising startups within 7 years. Among them, the Seoul National University of Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Support Team hosts the AWS Jungle, Oracle Miracle, and IBM collaboration programs. IT Donga highlights the participating companies selected for this year’s global enterprise collaboration program in partnership with SeoulTech’s Entrepreneurship Support Team.
“Quantum computing technology applied to quantum robots still has a long way to go and many issues to resolve. However, creating an environment where quantum computing systems operate within the city is necessary. Base and Power City aims to become a company that can help society and the community with quantum robot technology. It’s about applying a new quantum robot system to appropriate places in society.”
Base and Power City CEO Lee Dong-wook dreams of realizing a futuristic city using actual quantum robot technology, emphasizing the need for advanced technology to address various issues in society, hence the integration of robots and quantum computers.
Dreaming of creating city infrastructure combined with robotics, one key motivation for designing a robotics-enhanced urban infrastructure model is to protect pedestrians, especially vulnerable pedestrians. The system consists of fixed robots and mobile robots within crosswalks, where fixed robots play the initial protective role, intervening when vehicles enter a specific area at high speed. If the initial defense fails, mobile robots then move to provide the final protection for pedestrians.
Lee Dong-wook envisions applying this pedestrian protection system to all crosswalks in the city and parallel controlling multiple robots to facilitate management. Focusing on developing ‘quantum robots’ technology that controls multiple robots simultaneously using quantum computers’ massive computational power, emphasizing its potential application beyond pedestrian protection to drone taxis and autonomous transportation.
To address the complexity of massive robot control systems within a city, Lee Dong-wook turned to ‘quantum computers’ due to their ability to handle various variables and scenarios simultaneously, aiding in quicker and more efficient city optimization.
Although quantum computers are receiving attention for their faster computation, there is still a need for further research. Lee Dong-wook aims to bring his robot control technology to a commercializable level within 2-3 years, aligning with the rapid advancement of quantum computing technology.
As a civil engineering major, Lee Dong-wook shifted his focus to entrepreneurship to propose tangible and workable urban models instead of merely planning concepts, leading to the establishment of Base and Power City.
Selected for the Seoul National University of Science and Technology’s global enterprise collaboration program, Base and Power City is receiving support from IBM to broaden its understanding of quantum computers, develop quantum robot prototypes, and explore ways to utilize quantum computing. Lee Dong-wook acknowledges the attractive aspects of the program, such as technical support, education, networking opportunities, and collaboration prospects within the industry.
Despite encountering unexpected challenges with quantum computers, Lee Dong-wook approached learning quantum computer programming with a fresh start, aided by artificial intelligence and IBM engineers’ assistance.
Base and Power City’s quantum robot technology and urban infrastructure model are progressing towards international markets in the U.S. and Germany. With plans to develop and test products combining quantum robots within 2024, Lee Dong-wook aims to verify the differences between conventional computers and quantum computers. The ultimate goal is to apply and enhance the developed models in industries, services, and urban public sectors.
IT Donga, Kang Hyung-seok Reporter ([email protected])