The domestic production speed of key components for lunar exploration is expected to accelerate further.
Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) noted on the 31st that it will transfer electric powertrain technology to 'Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL),' the only rover manufacturing corporation in the country, and will conduct joint research.
A rover is an unmanned or manned vehicle that analyzes various environmental conditions such as terrain and temperature while moving across the surface of the moon or planets and carries out resource exploration missions. An electric powertrain, which is a device that transmits power from the battery to the wheels to generate driving force, is essential for the rover, but it has been dependent on imports for key components.
The aviation mobility promotion research team at KERI has developed numerous technologies related to motors and generators for land and maritime mobility since the 2000s. Since 2018, it has entered the electric powertrain field for drones and urban air mobility (UAM), achieving results including 19 SCIE-grade papers and 26 registered patents in the related areas.
Both organizations are continuing their joint research even after the technology transfer and aim to develop the rover's key components to an international level through various industry-academic-research collaborations in the future.
Lee Ji-young, head of the aviation mobility promotion research team, said, "The division of labor between UEL, which develops the lunar exploration rover's systems, and KERI, which develops the key components, is well established," adding, "We will also cooperate in winning large government projects."