The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has approved the use of firefighting drones at night and autonomous robots for traffic control at highway construction sites.
On October 20, the ministry held its ninth Mobility Innovation Committee meeting, where it reviewed and approved regulatory exceptions for 13 new technologies and services related to disaster response, traffic safety, and convenience.
Regulatory exceptions allow new technologies and services that face commercialization challenges due to existing laws to be tested and verified for a limited period. Exception holders can conduct trials for up to four years, and if safety and effectiveness are proven, these services can be formally introduced after legislative adjustments.
Under this exception, the operation of nighttime and beyond-visual-line-of-sight firefighting drones will be permitted. Previously, firefighting helicopters faced restrictions on nighttime operations due to visibility issues, and drones were limited in their ability to drop materials, fly at night, or operate beyond the pilot's line of sight. Now, drones equipped with water bags can be deployed at nighttime wildfire sites to help prevent the spread of fires.
At highway construction sites, mobile signal robots utilizing autonomous technology will be introduced. Previously, safety personnel had to enter lanes directly to perform hand signals and other accident prevention tasks before installing safety equipment. With this exception, robots can take over these hazardous tasks, potentially reducing worker safety incidents.
Additionally, the ministry has approved trials for variable rear safety plates to reduce accidents involving trucks colliding with vehicles underneath, as well as a plug-in hydrogen hybrid bus that uses both hydrogen fuel cells and batteries.
Other approved trials include demand-responsive transportation (DRT) buses to support student commutes and transportation for vulnerable populations, a vehicle rental service for substitute vehicles in the event of truck and delivery vehicle accidents, and a platform for sharing idle vehicles in multi-family housing.
Park Jun-hyung, head of the Ministry's Mobility and Automotive Bureau, stated, "This exception focuses on advanced disaster response technologies and mobility services that citizens can feel in their daily lives. We will prioritize safety management during the testing process and work to quickly integrate verified technologies into the regulatory framework."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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