33 Years of Being the Eyes of the Visually Impaired... What About AI Robot Guide Dogs?

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The guide dog school, which has served as the eyes for the visually impaired, has marked its 33rd anniversary. While robotic guide dogs are recently being developed, experts and users agree that they cannot replace traditional guide dogs.

Reporter Kim Hye-min has the story.

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Kim Song-hee cared for Danbami when the dog was just a puppy.

After completing training and growing into a guide dog, Danbami instantly recognizes Kim and wags its tail.

[Lee Byung-ha / Visually Impaired Individual : Thank you so much for raising it so wonderfully.]

[Kim Song-hee / Puppy Walker : Seeing you, sir, has really put my mind at ease. Danbami can be a bit mischievous, but I am sure they will get along well...]

Danbami underwent about a month of training with visually impaired user Lee Byung-ha and was officially assigned today (August 27).

At the 33rd-anniversary event of the Samsung Fire Guide Dog School, seven guide dogs, including Danbami, embarked on a new journey with seven visually impaired individuals.

Puppy walkers who socialize the dogs at home before they enter the guide dog school and the visually impaired recipients shared both laughter and tears.

[Park Jung-sook / Puppy Walker : I actively recommend puppy walking to acquaintances who are raising teenagers. Anger just melts away in an instant.]

[Kim Hong-ki / Visually Impaired Individual : If you want to go fast, walk alone; if you want to go far, walk together; if you want to be happy, walk with a guide dog.]

Four retired dogs, which finished their 7 to 8 years of service, began the second act of their lives with new volunteers.

An encounter between the robot guide dog in development, Eddie, and a regular guide dog also took place.

The quadrupedal robot by Rainbow Robotics has been integrated with specialized AI guide technology for the visually impaired, independently developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.

[Yoo Seok-jong / Trainer : There are quite a few differences in terms of the sense of speed, the pulling force, and other aspects...]

Because obstacle recognition and other functions are still insufficient, it is expected to take more than five years for actual commercialization.

Furthermore, since emotional connection is difficult, experts explain that rather than replacing regular guide dogs, robotic guide dogs should be viewed as an additional option depending on the circumstances and preferences of the visually impaired.

[Lee Byung-ha / Visually Impaired Individual : A guide dog is a companion that boosts my confidence along with me. A robot guide dog just goes where it is told, and there is no emotional exchange with me.]

(Video Reported by Choi Ho-jun | Video Edited by Shin Se-eun)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.