The Ministry of Science and ICT has officially launched a strategy to boost regional manufacturing growth through physical artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. The newly opened Physical AI Test Lab at Jeonbuk National University serves as a key platform for real-time verification of various production scenarios and technologies, enabling collaborative operations. On the 26th, Vice Minister and Minister Baek Kyung-hoon visited Jeonbuk National University to review the achievements of the ‘Physical AI Pre-Verification Project’ and discuss strategies for expanding manufacturing innovation and the large-scale regional AX project with participating companies and experts. The opening ceremony also featured demonstrations of advanced technologies such as precise teleoperation data collection.
The Ministry and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency utilized last year’s supplementary budget to implement the pre-verification project for physical AI-based manufacturing innovation, establishing a system that connects these results to the regional AX project. Test labs were set up at Jeonbuk National University (manufacturing) and KAIST (logistics) to verify field applicability based on processes, equipment, and data. Physical AI technologies such as autonomous mobile robot (AMR) logistics automation, machine tending automation, and flexible production systems for multi-product lines were applied to three automotive companies: DH Autoread, Daeseung Precision, and Donghae Metal. The Jeonbuk lab is the first platform to establish a physical AI field verification base, expected to become a hub for open demonstration ecosystems.
The test lab is divided into P-Zone (Production) and I-Zone (Innovation), allowing for simultaneous verification of experiments and production scenarios across assembly, inspection, labeling, and flexible manufacturing. DH Autoread improved process consistency and work efficiency by introducing unmanned transport with autonomous mobile robots and digital twin-based robotic automation. Daeseung Precision automated manual cutting processes with machine tending robots, significantly increasing equipment utilization and reducing defect rates. Donghae Metal established a flexible production and integrated control system to handle small-batch, multi-product welding and assembly. These technological applications have also shown positive effects on worker health issues, such as musculoskeletal disorders and tinnitus.
Expanding physical AI technology through the regional AX project is expected to have a significant ripple effect across the industry. At the field meeting following the lab’s opening, company representatives and experts discussed key tasks and policy support needed for the internalization of physical AI manufacturing innovation. Participants agreed that policy support based on field verification and institutional backing are crucial for sustainable competitiveness. The Ministry plans to actively reflect these insights in the design and policy support of future regional AX projects.
The opening of the Physical AI Test Lab at Jeonbuk National University marks a milestone in Korea’s digital transformation of manufacturing and the spread of smart factories. Field applications have demonstrated improvements in productivity, quality, and working conditions, with additional benefits for worker health. Combining open demonstration ecosystems with robust policy support will further strengthen Korea’s global manufacturing competitiveness and promote balanced regional development.