Autonomous delivery robots will be able to learn from raw video footage instead of mosaic-processed images, allowing them to more precisely recognize real road environments and operate more safely.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) held the 'ICT Regulatory Sandbox Review Committee' on the 6th and announced that three projects supported by the KCCI Sandbox Support Center had been approved.
First, Neubility's application for "Enhancement of Autonomous Delivery Robot Systems Using Raw Video Information" was granted a demonstration exemption. The project uses raw video data captured by cameras mounted on autonomous delivery robots for artificial intelligence (AI) training to upgrade the robots' cognitive functions and verify driving safety.
Under the current Personal Information Protection Act, video data captured by mobile video processing devices is classified as personal information and cannot, in principle, be used without the consent of the data subject. While such data may be used without consent for scientific research as an exception, mosaic processing is still required, which has limited autonomous robots' ability to precisely identify pedestrians or obstacles in complex urban environments.
The committee approved the demonstration exemption, citing that utilizing raw video data would strengthen the precision and safety of autonomous driving technology and promote growth across the industry. However, the approval requires compliance with mandatory safety measures, including use only for approved research purposes, prohibition of personal identification use and third-party provision, establishment of a management organization and phased management system, and preparation of video data protection measures.
The "Regional Channel Commerce Broadcasting Service for Comprehensive Cable TV Operators," applied for by the Korea Cable TV Association and others, was also granted a temporary permit. The service uses regional channels of comprehensive cable TV operators during consumption promotion events hosted by the government or local governments to promote and sell products tailored to viewers, produced by small merchants and farmers and fishermen within the respective region.
Under the current Broadcasting Act, it was unclear whether comprehensive cable TV operators could directly introduce and sell products of small merchants on their regional channels, making the service difficult to provide. The committee approved the temporary permit considering that it would provide new sales channels for local small merchants, revitalize the regional economy, and enhance consumer benefits.
During the demonstration exemption period, the service proved its effectiveness, with approximately 560 companies participating, selling about 830,000 products, and generating around 34 billion won ($25 million) in sales. However, conditions were imposed, including limiting broadcasts to government and local government-hosted consumption promotion events, a maximum of three broadcasts per day totaling three hours, and fair and reasonable product selection.
"At this review committee, meaningful regulatory innovation was achieved in areas such as AI autonomous driving technology enhancement and region-based commerce platforms," said Lee Jong-myung, head of KCCI's Industrial Growth Division. "We will actively support the sandbox to function as a platform that supports new industries and promotes vitality in the people's economy."
Since the regulatory sandbox system was introduced in January 2019, the number of ICT sandbox exemption approvals has reached 300. The KCCI has operated the Regulatory Sandbox Support Center since May 2020, supporting 124 of these projects to gain approval.
