About KROS

The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of the Korea Robotics Society (KROS) are internal forums designed to increase opportunities for members to actively participate in academic activities, and to foster deeper academic exchange and communication in specific areas of research. KROS strongly encourages all members to join one or more SIGs and also welcomes the establishment of new SIGs in emerging or specialized fields.
Each year, SIGs are expected to submit plans for their activities and reports on their achievements. Based on these reports, KROS provides support for proactive academic activities both domestically and internationally. We look forward to your continued interest and active participation.

If you would like to join a SIG, please fill out the application form below and send it via e-mail to the chair of your applied SIG. After submitting the form, you may coordinate further with the chair and KROS Office.

Application Form for Joining a KROS SIG

• Marine Robotics Special Interest Group   Homepage The Marine Robotics Special Interest Group conducts academic activities on specialized technologies that enable robots to operate underwater. It also facilitates information exchange, research collaboration, and community-building among its members. In addition to exploring technologies tailored for underwater environments, the group addresses a wide range of shared technologies that intersect with terrestrial robotics. It actively promotes the growth of the domestic underwater robotics field through scholarly activities and engages in international collaborations with research groups from the IEEE Robotics & Automation Society (RAS), IEEE Ocean Engineering Society, and IFAC. We warmly welcome the interest and participation of robotics researchers.
• Robot Vision Special Interest Group The Robot Vision Special Interest Group aims to facilitate the sharing of research outcomes and the formation of collaborative research teams in the field of robot vision, a core component of artificial intelligence in the era of autonomous driving. Its ultimate goal is to plan and secure large-scale research projects. As deep learning technology continues to evolve rapidly, this group brings together experts in robot vision to exchange knowledge on the latest tools and foster joint research efforts.
• Locomotion and Manipulation Special Interest Group   Homepage   Youtube The Locomotion and Manipulation Special Interest Group focuses on promoting research exchange related to locomotion technologies for bipedal robots such as humanoids, as well as multi-jointed, multi-legged robots, and manipulation technologies using robotic arms and hands. With growing attention on locomotion in unstructured indoor and outdoor environments and manipulation for performing practical tasks, this group explores both fields in tandem. Since many of the core technologies for locomotion and manipulation overlap, and research on whole-body control algorithms for multi-contact scenarios is actively progressing, the group aims to facilitate integrated discussions and collaboration in these interconnected areas.
• Rehabilitation Robotics Special Interest Group   Homepage The Rehabilitation Robotics Special Interest Group aims to enhance the international visibility of domestic research groups by focusing on technical issues in rehabilitation robotics through academic activities, information exchange, and research collaboration. Centered around engineering experts in the field, the group provides a platform for technological exchange that fosters breakthroughs from both technical and clinical perspectives. With an emphasis on the "viewpoint of engineers," the group discusses and shares the latest trends in technical challenges and clinical applications in rehabilitation robotics.
• Robot Ethics Special Interest Group The Robot Ethics Special Interest Group aims to implement ethical decision-making capabilities, which are considered essential for human-coexisting intelligent robots, through multidisciplinary theories and approaches, and to develop them into artificial intelligence algorithms. The group seeks to participate in and lead the international movement for robot ethics certification and standardization. Since robot ethics is a field that integrates theories and technologies from robotics, artificial intelligence, ethics, philosophy, psychology, and sociology, it requires ongoing discussions with experts from diverse fields. By continuously disclosing developments to the public, the group hopes to foster consensus, thereby accelerating the development and popularization of ethical standards in robotics.
• Social Robot Special Interest Group The Social Robot Special Interest Group aims to establish a community where researchers and developers in the field of social robots can share information and explore collaborative research opportunities. This group forms an expert network that provides advice and technical support on social robot technologies. With active research and development efforts worldwide aimed at improving the social interaction capabilities of robots, the group focuses on understanding the trends in social robot technology, discussing their implications, and promoting research and development collaborations in the field.
• Disaster and Safety Robotics Special Interest Group The Disaster and Safety Robotics Special Interest Group focuses on the active development of technologies for disaster site applications both domestically and internationally. The group aims to facilitate technical exchanges among domestic experts to secure core robot technologies and components that can operate under extreme disaster conditions. It also fosters technical exchanges to enhance the effective response to disasters using robotic technologies, promotes the exchange of practical verification technologies to maximize the on-site application of developed robot platforms, and encourages international collaboration and technical exchanges with major institutions in the disaster and safety fields.
• Robot Learning Special Interest Group The Robot Learning Special Interest Group focuses on the latest research trends and technological exchanges in the field of robot learning. It aims to expand academic exchanges among members and broaden the scope of research in artificial intelligence and robot learning. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence, and robotics become major societal topics, interest in robot learning, which sits at the intersection of AI and robotics, has been growing. This group seeks to foster information exchange and collaboration between academia and industry in the related fields.
• Robot History and Culture Special Interest Group   Homepage The Robot History and Culture Special Interest Group aims to uncover and investigate the historical and cultural development of robotics technology in Korea, collect and review materials related to the direction and outcomes of major robotics research and development programs, and promote technical exchanges to establish future directions for robotics R&D. To shape the future direction of robotics R&D in Korea and secure the competitiveness of robotics technologies and industries, it is essential to assess the history and culture of past robotics technological advancements, as well as the direction and outcomes of large-scale research and development programs. This group facilitates collaboration and technical exchanges between researchers who have led past major developments and those working to create strategies for future technological growth.
• Cloud Robotics Special Interest Group Cloud robotics refers to robots that utilize various resources available in the cloud environment to perform the essential functions of perception, decision-making, and expression. By offloading computational loads to remote locations, cloud robotics extends the robot's capabilities, enabling it to share information with other robots and collaborate effectively. Many robots are already using cloud platforms to leverage intelligent services such as speech recognition/synthesis and image recognition, and with the advent of 5G mobile communication, cases are emerging where real-time control functions are also utilizing cloud platforms. The Cloud Robotics Special Interest Group aims to stay up-to-date on related technological trends, encourage research and development information sharing, and foster collaboration among members.
• Logistics Robotics Special Interest Group   Homepage Logistics robotics technology is applied not only to cargo transport but also to a wide range of fields, including food delivery within restaurants, logistics in hotels and hospitals, and more. In the post-pandemic era, the role of robots in logistics automation has become even more prominent. The Logistics Robotics Special Interest Group aims to create the leading community of logistics robotics experts in Korea by promoting information sharing and collaborative research among researchers, related companies, and suppliers/users in the logistics robotics field. The goal is to become the driving force behind technological innovations in logistics robotics in Korea, fostering collaboration to develop domestic logistics robot technologies into world-leading technologies for various applications.
• Manufacturing Process Robotics Technology Special Interest Group The Manufacturing Process Robotics Special Interest Group aims to foster collaboration and technical exchange among researchers and industry stakeholders involved in manufacturing process robotics technology. The goal is to advance manufacturing robot technology and enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing companies through the development and dissemination of practical technologies based on real-world applications. To promote the utilization and expansion of robots in industrial settings, the group seeks to survey the diverse needs of manufacturing companies, robotics companies, robot system integrators, and robotics/process-related researchers and developers, collaborating to develop and advance practical robotics technologies.
• Robotics in Media Special Interest Group Movies and TV shows present a combination of reality and human imagination, offering a vision of humanity's present and future on the screen. The Robotics in Media Special Interest Group aims to research and share current and future robotics technologies through robots and robotic products introduced in various forms of media. This group seeks to provide direction for South Korea's robotics policy and explore the future trajectory of robotics technology by examining the portrayal of robotics in media.
• Multi-Agent Systems Special Interest Group The Multi-Agent Systems Special Interest Group focuses on the research and development of multi-agent systems (MAS) for various application fields, aiming to investigate the diverse needs of academia, industry, and research institutions. The group focuses on the development of multi-cluster swarm intelligence robots capable of dynamic network formation and autonomous collaboration among swarm robots in unstructured environments. These robots are designed to perceive their environment and situation and actively perform tasks based on collaborative interactions. The goal of the group is to advance the technology and application of MAS elements for such multi-agent systems.
• Micro Robot Special Interest Group The Micro Robot Special Interest Group aims to advance the multidisciplinary field of micro-robotics through scholarly activities, research collaboration, and information exchange. The group strives to contribute to the technological advancements in fields such as healthcare and advanced manufacturing. This group focuses on pioneering small-scale robots and conducts collaborative research on smart materials, micromanufacturing, control/sensing, as well as applications in military and medical fields.

Each international chapter of the Korea Robotics Society (KROS) serves as a dynamic hub for connecting members residing abroad. These chapters promote knowledge exchange and foster collaborative research between Korea and their respective countries. By closely tracking regional trends in cutting-edge robotics research and development, they help drive impactful partnerships and contribute to the global advancement of robotics technologies.

Chapters	Chapter Chairs
Japan Chapter	Chair: Prof. Nak-Young Chong (JAIST) Homepage Vice-Chair: Prof. Yonghoon Ji (JAIST) Homepage
Europe Chapter	Chair: Prof. Dongheui Lee (Vienna University of Technology) Homepage
Western U.S. Chapter	Chair: Prof. Hyunglae Lee (Arizona State University) Homepage
Central U.S. Chapter	Chair: Prof. Myunghee Kim (University of Illinois Chicago) Homepage
Eastern U.S. Chapter	Chair: Prof. Jung Hyuk Park (George Washington University) Homepage

Each regional chapter of the Korea Robotics Society (KROS) is dedicated to advancing the field of robotics through collaboration, research, and development across various regions in Korea. These chapters provide valuable opportunities for academic exchange, technical cooperation, and industry-academia partnerships, contributing to the growth of robotics technologies and industries.

Chapters	Chapter Chairs
Gwangju-Honam-Jeju Chapter Homepage	Chair: Prof. Jaebyung Park (Chonbuk National University) Vice-Chair: Prof. Kyubin Lee (GIST)
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Chapter Homepage	Chair: Prof. Seokho Park (DGIST) Vice-Chair: Prof. Chan Lee (Yeungnam University)
Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Chapter Homepage	Chair: Prof. Hyunsik Kim (Dongmyeong University) Vice-Chair: Prof. Sangrok Jin (Pusan National University)
Daejeon-Chungcheong Chapter Homepage	Chair: Dr. Chang-Eun Lee (ETRI) Vice-Chair: Prof. Gonwoo Kim (Chungbuk National University)