Robots and AI Deployed for Railway Safety Inspections... Hanyang University ERICA and Neo Trans Launch Hands-On Industry-Academic Partnership

[Financial News] Advanced robots and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies developed by university students will be introduced for facility inspections and safety management on the Shinbundang Line, a major trunk transportation network in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Hanyang University ERICA Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation announced on the 3rd that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Neo Trans, the operator of the Shinbundang Line, to promote technological innovation in the railway and mobility industries and cultivate specialized talent tailored to field needs. The two sides will now begin full-scale cooperation.
As their first hands-on project, the two parties will jointly operate an industry-linked capstone design program. Moving beyond conventional assignments limited to on-campus practice, the program will have students directly address real-world challenges in railway operations, safety, and facility inspections presented by Neo Trans using robotics and AI technologies. Neo Trans will provide mentoring from industry experts, technical advice, and access for field surveys. Prototypes validated through outstanding technical performance will then advance to follow-up joint research and deployment in actual operations.
The partnership will extend beyond simply carrying out assignments to include national R&D projects and recruitment. The two institutions plan to develop technologies for railway maintenance automation, digital twins, and data analysis, while jointly identifying and carrying out R&D projects led by the central government and local authorities. They also intend to link field training, internships, recruitment briefings, and job mentoring in an integrated manner, thereby pursuing both technology commercialization and the creation of local jobs.
Lee Kwan-hyung, CEO of Neo Trans, said, "Introducing advanced technologies such as robotics and AI is essential to improving safety and operational efficiency in the railway and mobility industries." He added, "We will create an industry-academic model that practically solves problems in the field and cultivates hands-on talent capable of leading the future mobility industry."
Bae Ji-hoon, chair of the Robotics Engineering Department at Hanyang University ERICA, also said, "This is a meaningful starting point for students to experience problems in industrial settings and develop solutions using their engineering knowledge." He added, "We will actively cooperate so that the ideas generated can lead to technical validation, government projects, and ultimately actual employment."
The signing ceremony was attended by Bae Ji-hoon, chair of the department at Hanyang University ERICA; professors Choi Young-jin, Lee Seong-on, Jang Beom-jin, and Kim Wan-su; and Neo Trans CEO Lee Kwan-hyung, Executive Director Kim Seong-eon, and Team Leader Lee Beom-gyu.

[email protected] Man-ki Kim Reporter