The Korea Forest Service (President Moo-Yeol Choi), a public institution under the Korea Forest Service, introduced the 'Step Up' product of FRT Robotics Co., Ltd. as an example of excellent national research and development in solving social problems at the '2024 Republic of Korea Innovation Challenge Research Open Exhibition' hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 17th.

 

The 'Step Up' product was honored with being selected as one of the 11 best products among 191 government R&D achievements for solving social problems in 2024. This is the first case in the forestry sector.

 

The wearable muscle support robot 'Step Up', developed through the 'Forestry Science and Technology Commercialization Support Project' supported by the Korea Forest Service, reduces muscle fatigue felt by workers, thereby increasing mobility and work efficiency.

 

It is mainly used in disaster situations such as forest fires, and helps to secure stability and prevent safety accidents by providing musculoskeletal support to forest firefighters who are aging with an average age of over 60. Accordingly, it has been recognized for its excellence in responding to forest disasters and the aging population, and preventing safety accidents for workers.

 

The product was recognized for its public nature and innovation, and was designated as an excellent research and development innovation product by the Korea Forest Service in 2023. This year, it was selected for the Public Procurement Service’s innovative product pilot purchase project, and the product is continuously being improved through field verification in conjunction with the Korea Forest Service.

 

If this product is applied in various fields such as logistics, manufacturing, and nursing in addition to disaster response in the forestry sector in the future, it is expected to provide solutions to the increasingly important issues of industrial safety protection and aging population.

 

President Choi Moo-yeol said, “We will spare no support so that the excellent research and development products discovered through the forestry science and technology research and development project can be applied not only in forestry fields but also in various fields such as agriculture, fisheries, nursing, manufacturing, and logistics, thereby contributing to solving social problems such as the aging population and industrial accidents.”