VOL.39 · April 30 · 2018
ETRI will contribute to the economic growth of Korea with research accomplishments in ICT and come closer to the nation’s citizens to ignite their interest in science. ETRI is with the citizens through advanced ICT to realize what is imagined, change the world with ICT, and open a bright future with ICT.
Headline News
On March 6, ETRI announced that it succeeded in developing 400 Gbps optical transmitter/receiver components capable of sending 50 HD movies in one second. This development of components for 5G communication networks is expected to accommodate the exponential growth in traffic.
ETRI has successfully developed two optical transmitter/receiver components. First, it developed a 400 Gbps optical receiver that converts 400 Gbps optical signals into electric signals. Second, it developed a tunable optical device that transmits electric signals to an optical communication network.
The two devices will be modularized and utilized as a repeater for optical communications. In the future, the proposed system will be installed in major cities expected to have high traffic volumes. It will be commercialized through optical transceiver manufacturers and communication network operators.
On March 9, ETRI signed an MOU with the R&D Center of BMW Korea for the development of key technology for next-generation automobiles. The institute will engage in research cooperation with BMW in various areas such as driver assistance systems, automobile communications, and new materials. As part of joint research, a driver interface that supports tactile input/output is currently being developed.
ETRI is conducting tactile interaction research involving intelligent materials that change physical forms when subject to electric signals. The integration of electronic devices in automobiles is expected to reduce accidents that may occur from the use of such devices while driving.
ETRI, in cooperation with KT and local small-and medium-sized companies such as Lanbird Technolgoy and S Net ICT, succeeded in developing technology for seamless switching between 5G and WiFi.
Users who watch videos on their smartphones through streaming services will no longer experience any interference or delay when they enter a subway train. According to ETRI, the new technology analyzes 5G network traffic to optimize user connections.
ETRI has developed flexible and transparent electrochromic devices that stack graphene materials into four layers and change color in 0.5 seconds. Due to their high electrical conductivity, transparency, and flexibility, the graphene-based devices can be used in the manufacturing of wearable devices.
The research team expects the devices will be useful in reducing energy consumption of smart windows or rear-view mirrors of vehicles, and in camouflaging soldiers and tanks. Further research will be conducted to enlarge the devices for wearable device applications.
Photo News
On March 6, ETRI held a ceremony to commemorate the opening of the indoor flight test building for unmanned vehicles. The building construction began in 2017 for the purpose of establishing a safe testing environment for unmanned vehicles, and was successfully completed in January 2018. Sanghoon Lee, the president of ETRI, and other related personnel attended the tape-cutting ceremony and group photo session. This was followed by an introduction of facilities and a report on possible applications. The new building is expected to establish a safer and more systematic environment for indoor flight tests.
