Tragic Accident Highlights Growing Safety Concerns as Industrial Robots Misidentify Workers in South Korea
By Amica
In a heartbreaking incident that sheds light on the safety challenges posed by the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) robots in industrial settings in South Korea, a man in his 40s lost his life at a Goseong agricultural product distribution center. The accident occurred when an industrial robot misidentified the worker as a box, ultimately crushing him to death.
According to reports from the Gyeongnam Police Agency, the tragic incident took place at an agricultural product distribution center in Yeongmyeon, Goseong, around 7:45 p.m. on the 7th. The victim, known as Mr. A, was examining an error in an industrial machine robot sensor. During this process, the robot's sensor erroneously recognized him as an object, leading to a catastrophic outcome.
Mr. A suffered severe injuries to his face and upper body, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he tragically passed away. He was working alongside three colleagues from his company at the time of the accident.
The emergency services were alerted to the situation when a call to 119 was made, reporting that a person was trapped in the agricultural product sorting machine. The rescue team found Mr. A caught between the agricultural product sorting line's roller and the robot arm, resulting in severe injuries to his face and left collarbone. Despite their best efforts, he could not be saved.
This agricultural product distribution center, known for exporting various products, including paprika, to international markets such as Japan, has been using two unmanned robots, each costing 130 million won since 2019. These robots were responsible for selecting boxes of paprika and transferring them to pallets. The robot involved in the accident was stationed near the box sorting stand and had an arm that moved both up and down and side to side. Mr. A was carrying out modifications and checks on the robot's program when the accident occurred.
The police are currently investigating the extent to which the robot's recognition system failed, leading it to misidentify Mr. A as a box. Additionally, they are scrutinizing the circumstances surrounding the accident and evaluating the accountability of those responsible for safety management at the site.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the growing safety concerns associated with the use of industrial robots, not only in South Korea but also internationally. Similar cases of misidentification and malfunction accidents have been reported both at home and abroad, underlining the need for enhanced safety measures and rigorous assessments of robotic systems.
As the investigation unfolds, the hope is that this devastating incident will bring about changes in the design and operation of robots used in agricultural and industrial settings in South Korea, ultimately making them safer for workers.
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