You won first place at the 2024 Form and Function University Robotics Challenge, where competitors from each university are required to submit a robot with both a unique physical appearance (form factor) and utility or an automation project. You must be overjoyed.

Mr. Jung In fact, Mr. Song and I also participated in last year's competition. Unfortunately, we were not able to receive any awards. We submitted a robot the size of a robot vacuum, which is capable of picking up and organizing things for people through a foldable robotic arm attached to its body. Despite the acclamation of the interesting nature of this tiny robot, which can perform various tasks, we received feedback on the lack of uniqueness in our technology in terms of the performance of this expandable robotic arm. Based on this feedback, we invented a new robot with improved performance of our technology and, finally, enthusiastically reached first place.

Mr. Song As a matter of fact, the entries of other teams created confidence: ‘We could win the first place this time!’ The size of our robot stood out, and its appearance and driving method were new. This was because the intended performance was 100% realized on the other side of this planet. Moreover, future-oriented storytelling in space may contribute concurrently to this meaningful result.

Mr. Lee For my research, I have been mainly exploring the production of prosthetic and robotic hands via 3D printing. Thus, the process of manufacturing this large-scale robot was interesting and even meaningful because it was successful. Furthermore, it was an amazing opportunity to collaborate closely with peers with different research interests within the laboratory. Without this project, I would not have the opportunity to work with these two scholars investigating large-scale deployable robotic structures. In this respect, this project enabled me to realize that collaboration with other fields could lead to new meaningful values and outcomes.

I heard that the submitted robot aroused keen interest and strong reactions during the competition. Please make a brief introduction to your entry.

Mr. Jung Briefly speaking, our product can be said to be a "mobile deployable 3D printer." This robot is initially cylindrical with a height of 0.9 m and a diameter of 0.9 m. Once deployed, it vastly expands to a triangular pyramid with a height of 3.6 m and a base of 3.2 m. The 3D printer attached to this structure can print structures larger than a human. After completing one structure, it can be scaled down and moved to a new location to continue creating another structure. The core component of the robot we created is a robotic arm structure that can be compressed via the “fold-and-roll double compression method.” This robotic arm structure was utilized to implement a solid deployable frame that can be flexibly reconfigurable in size. Although our entry for the competition last year was essentially the same regarding the core technology, the robot implemented this time stands out with the emphasis on technological superiority in performance compared with conventional technological options. This feature may have enabled us to excel in the competition compared with the previous year.

I hear you have gained various experiences in this competition. Please share particularly memorable moments.

Mr. Song We earnestly strived to distinguish our robot effectively. We zeroed in on the features that can realize a small and light product that is deployable to a large-scale structure and capable of printing large 3D products. Along this direction, we developed the concept of an “unmanned robot that constructs a moon base,” and to demonstrate that our robot could be easily transported to outer space, we flew to Boston with the robot divided into four large suitcases without checking separate luggage. During the competition, we described our robot to the audience with this emphasis. As a result, the host introduced us as a “team that brought this robot in hand from South Korea to Boston” at the award ceremony for the competition. We were proud that our strategy to convey our intention was outstandingly successful.

Mr. Lee I remember that day when we demonstrated the printing of a 1.2-m-high structure at the exhibition site as if it were yesterday. It takes approximately 25 hours to construct a structure of this size. For this reason, we installed the robot on the site the day before the competition and initiated the printing process beforehand. We returned to our hotel after checking the smooth printing process. When we returned the next morning, we found that the middle part of the structure was slightly off balance. The event manager told me that the manager raised the neighboring promotional banner that had fallen toward the 3D printer, and the fallen object might have shocked the printer then. When a 3D printer is subjected to shock during its printing operation, the machine typically ceases working, or the shape of the printing structure becomes distorted. The printed structure gradually became unsteady, proportional to the time when the banner was leaning on our robot, although the robot finally completed the structure afterward. Thus, we highlighted this happening to the audience while describing our robot. “Despite the unexpected shock, our robot completed its mission by overcoming the hurdle.” (Laugh)

The teamwork among the three of you must be an important factor in achieving good results in the competition. I am curious as to how all of you decided to form one team.

Mr. Jung After ranking the disappointing fourth place in last year's competition, Mr. Song and I discussed upgrading the previous robot model based on the feedback from the preceding competition. From the viewpoint of accentuating the performance of our technology, we decided to upgrade our model into a large-scale deployable frame. During the process, we decided to incorporate a new field called 3D printing, which was under consideration of architectural automation as an application of the deployable frame. Under these circumstances, we recruited Mr. Lee, who received his PhD in 3D printing and is actively applying this technology to investigate prosthetic and robotic hands.

Mr. Lee Although the three of us played a key role in conducting this project, the direct and indirect support of the Biorobotics Laboratory was a significant part of this success. In particular, Chan Kim, PhD candidate, and Incheol Jeong, PhD candidate, were actively involved in carrying out this project. Despite their absence in Boston, I can definitely say that they were part of this team.

Your second try, based on last year's experience, has led to impressive achievements. What does Seoul National University (SNU) mean to you in your continued research and challenges?

Mr. Song Honestly, if we had not been at SNU, we would not have been able to achieve this success. In addition to its equipment, infrastructure, and human resources necessary for robotics research, SNU has created an encouraging atmosphere that allows its members to take on bold challenges. Because we are at SNU, we were able to participate in this competition as a team.

Mr. Jung I left this laboratory in 2016 and returned in 2020. During that time, I challenged myself with entrepreneurship outside the school. At SNU, we frequently talk about aspirations, interests, joy, and a sense of accomplishment, whereas most people I met outside the school were extremely realistic. In this respect, as Mr. Song mentioned, I am confident that I could take on this bold project and achieve a considerable result because I was at SNU, which encouraged us to have aspirations and realize them. If we were somewhere else, we would have only shared things within the boundaries of reality: “How will this project help us land a job?” “How will we divide this prize money?” and “Will this be sufficient to obtain a research project?”

What plans and goals do the three of you have in robotics research?

Mr. Lee Because my area of research is prosthetic and robotic hands, I aim to advance the robotic hands that are attached to humanoid robots. Various types of robotic hands currently under research have been developed for more than half a century and still face many demands, including technology and prices, prior to being attached to humanoid robots. My current goal is to improve robotic hands in these aspects and contribute to the commercialization of humanoid robots with artificial hands as sophisticated as human hands.

Mr. Song I plan to continue my research related to the project we submitted in last year’s competition, in which a deployable robotic arm was attached to a robot the size of a robot vacuum. I have been studying robotics with the imagination that the robots I invent are widely used in everyday life. Currently, a robot the size of a robot vacuum having an extendable robotic arm is the item closest to that blueprint. My current research addresses a versatile robot with its deployable robotic arm extending upward by 2 m and its size being slightly larger than that of a robot vacuum, whose work range is close to that of humans. I believe this model could be commercialized.

Mr. Jung I am preparing to submit a research article on the robot we entered in this competition to an overseas journal. I will continue my exploration of mobile deployable 3D printers for the time being. There are still many areas for improvement before this robot can print structures for a building and engage in activities in outer space. I will gradually upgrade this robot in terms of size, printing capability, and sturdiness to make this technology applicable to construction sites or outer space.