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"My legs definitely feel lighter and I'm not tired at all. With this, I could hike for quite some time."
On the 18th, scientific investigators from the Forensic Science Investigation Research Group under the Criminal Investigation Division of Gyeongnam National Police Agency in Changwon were seen climbing up and down stairs with what appeared to be hip-colored devices strapped around their waists. This product, which connects the waist and thighs, is a walking assistance wearable robot developed by robotics startup Wirobotics.
According to police, officers often have to carry various scientific investigation equipment and body transport gear manually for extended periods at mountain and suspicious death crime scenes. In particular, in mountainous areas where vehicle access is difficult, significant physical exertion can occur even before reaching the scene.
Wirobotics' wearable robot focuses on reducing the burden of on-site movement, enabling police to arrive at locations with necessary equipment and perform their core duties such as search and forensic examination more stably. Ultimately, the goal of this demonstration is to enhance on-site response capabilities and provide more stable public safety and investigation services.
Police officers who participated in the product demonstration simulating a mountain incident unanimously stated, "Even after going up and down stairs multiple times, my body feels much lighter than usual." One officer who carried 5–10kg of scientific investigation equipment while climbing stairs remarked, "Since less strength is required in the lower body, the burden shifting to the upper body when carrying objects is definitely reduced." Wirobotics has installed three demonstration units at Gyeongnam National Police Agency and plans to collect additional feedback over the next month to reflect improvements and modifications to the robot.
This project jointly conducted by Wirobotics and Gyeongnam National Police Agency is part of the 'Government's First Demonstration and Procurement Project' promoted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Announced at the State Council meeting in April this year, the project supports startups in new industries by helping their R&D outcomes lead to government/public demonstrations, designation as innovative products, pilot procurement, and overseas validation. The goal is for the government to directly verify and purchase technologies and products from new industry startups to help establish initial markets and secure sales channels.
In the 'Robotics' category, which launched the first public recruitment, five government institutional investors including the National Police Agency participated as demand-side institutional investors. Thirteen startups, including Wirobotics, were selected and have been conducting on-site demonstrations since July.
First, based on demand from government and public institutional investors, startups are provided with technology/product demonstration environments and funding. Innovative products that succeed in technical validation receive support for initial government procurement and public dissemination through the Public Procurement Service's innovative product pilot procurement and public procurement systems. Additionally, overseas demonstrations are linked by leveraging the global networks of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Public Procurement Service to identify new demand sources.
A representative from Wirobotics stated, "It is a meaningful opportunity to validate the potential of wearable robots in actual scientific investigation scenes and directly hear feedback from the field. Through this demonstration with the National Police Agency, if we can further advance our technology and products and build them as references, it will be decisively helpful in securing future customers in other private sectors or globally."
Meanwhile, Wirobotics was founded in 2021 by co-CEOs Lee Yeon-baek and Kim Yong-jae, who spent over 20 years developing robots at Samsung Electronics. The company previously secured Series B funding worth 95 billion won in May.
[MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory]
in FUTURE
