Principal Researcher Pan-mook Lee Awarded KRISO Scientist Award for Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Research

▶ KRISO Hall of Fame in recognition of contributions to development of KRISO

▶ Leading development, commercialization and expansion of unmanned underwater vehicle technology

□ Pan-mook Lee, Principal Researcher at the Ocean System Engineering Research Division of Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean engineering (hereinafter KRISO, President Booki, Kim) has been honored with the KRISO Scientist Award for his contributions over the years.

□ The KRISO Scientist Award is an award given to researchers who have contributed significantly to the development of KRISO as well as science and technology with outstanding research achievements.

□ Principal researcher Pan-mook Lee has been recognized with the KRISO Scientist Award for his work on unmanned underwater vehicle technology, driving technological developments through research, and expanding the application of the technology through intellectual property rights management and commercialization.

□ Principal researcher Pan-mook Lee joined KRISO in 1985 and has been leading developments in the field of unmanned underwater vehicles and underwater robots in Korea over the past 37 years. He developed core technologies such as the ▲ deep sea remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle (HEMIRE), ▲ autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle (IsiMI), ▲ auto-navigating mine disposal vehicle, and ▲ underwater walking robot (Crabster).

□ In 2016, Lee participated in the exploration of hydrothermal vents in Southern Mariana Arc submarine volcanoes using the deep sea unmanned underwater vehicle HEMIRE and published a paper on the findings. He also filed a patent for a complex deep sea unmanned underwater vehicle system. He also transferred shallow sea autonomous underwater vehicle technology to Hanhwa Systems in 2010, and auto-navigating mine disposal vehicle technology to Daeyang Electric. Co., Ltd. in 2021, contributing to the commercialization of technological developments.

□ Additionally, his deep sea unmanned underwater vehicle and autonomous underwater vehicle made the list of 100 Outstanding National Research and Development Projects in 2007 and 2010, and 10 Best Follow-Up Cases of Outstanding Research Projects in 2021. He also played a leading role in establishing marine accident response policies using marine exploration equipment technology and supported accident site surveys with unmanned underwater vehicles in response to major marine accidents.

□ Thus, Principal Researcher Pan-mook Lee has made significant contributions to the development of deep sea ocean science and technology as well as KRISO, addressing the needs of the nation in his work as a scientist.

□ Principal Researcher Pan-mook Lee responded with humility upon receiving the KRISO Scientist Award at the 2022 KRISO Kick-off Ceremony, saying “I would like to pass this honor to my fellow researchers who have always worked together to overcome unexpected challenges in the process of developing underwater robots.”