President & CEO Lee Bae of Doobae System specializies in the development of world-class robots.

Doobae System has developed an instillator robot probing inhalation toxicity for the first time in the world. 

Authorities failed to determine the cause of women, babies and toddlers who died of fatal damages to the lungs in 2011. At that time, it was an inhalation toxicity testing robot that determined the exact cause of the deaths — a disinfectant that was put into the humidifier. 

In the past, inhalation toxicity testing was done in a laboratory to find out the cause of similar accidents. The airway of the lab rat, standing at a maximum 1.3 mm in diameter, is too narrow to put inhalation into lungs. The instillator robot is 1.2 mm in diameter -- enough to be inserted into the respiratory track of a rat. Furthermore, the instillastor carries an endoscope that can provide inside images.

The inserting portion is outfitted with automatic tubing, 0.36 mm in diameter, small enough to insert into the lungs. The video instillator includes a guide unit that protrudes frontward from the case to secure the airway of the animal by being inserted through the throat; an image pickup unit that is installed on a front end of the guide unit to capture images; an administration unit that is installed through the case and the guide unit to administrate an inhalation; an administration switch for adjusting administration of a predetermined amount of the inhalation directed to the administration unit into the airway; and an image display unit that is connected to the image pickup unit to allow a user to see the images captured by the image pickup unit.  

“Development of anything for first time in the world itself brings a great joy. Our instillator robot technology probing inhalation toxicity has made it possible to puzzle out the humidifier disinfectant mystery. Almost none know that, however,” said President & CEO Lee Bae, who runs Doobae System. 

Doobae System is an SME that specializes in the development of workplace robots. The company has gained recognition by being awarded the Excellent Invention (Hybrid) Company Certification in June 2011; the New Technology NET Certification in December 2009; and the Management Innovation MAIN-BIZ SME Certification in April 2009.

The company was rated Class A in an evaluation of new technology idea feasibility studies by the Small and Medium Business Administration (SMBA) in August 2007. In particular, Doobae System has earned fame amongst prestigious research institutions with robot R&D activities, universities and large-sized companies. 

Doobae System President Lee was a researcher in charge of transmitter-receiver systems for Korea’s first satellite, Uribyeol. He never thought of setting up a company before the establishment of Doobae System in 1998, but he founded the startup after members of a research office of a company he headed failed to find jobs due to the tough financial times the company experienced. 

Now, the company has developed and supplied some 60 kinds of robots to such firms as POSCO, KEPCO, Hanwha, SK, Seoul National University, KAIST, the Ministry of National Defense, and Korea Ocean Research Development Institute. 

The number of robots — including the ones developed on its own — total more that 100. They include some 10 robots developed on government-fund tasks. Among the company’s representative technologies are ocean floor probing robots, ground robot prediction robots, multi-reflection pipe relocation robots, extreme environment work robots, high-radioactive area work robots, and waste fuel road storage water diagnosis robots. 

Doobae System’s ocean floor probing robots are more advanced than those of rival companies. The existing robots cannot conduct undisturbed sampling in geological surveys, but Doobae System’s robots can achieve this task.

CEO Lee said Doobae System’s ocean floor probing robot is the first to collect an undisturbed sample on soft ground, and the usage of robots for artificial islets and ocean probing is projected to surge. The robot has been developed in part due to a project financed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Doobae System teamed up with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology. The robot has allowed the nation to conduct floor and undersea resources surveys, a departure from its dependence on foreign imports for survey equipment.

“We’ve made strenuous efforts to fix problems by making the most of the problem-solving experiences and ideas in such areas as ocean science, nuclear power, crude oil, chemical, drinking water, heavy industry, semiconductor, precision industry, life-saving, biology, and safety evaluation, and have stepped on the gas to develop new technologies in related areas,” Lee said. 

“I humbly accept powerlessness in front of nature and I’m conducting my utmost to contributing to the nation’s obtaining advanced technologies for the development of industries,” the CEO added. 

Lee touched on the difficulties SMEs experience, saying that even though Doobae System is a market trailblazer, the company could not have secured funding and production facilities necessary for mass production.

When Doobae System wanted to receive support from the government’s assistance programs, it was given the cold shoulder by finical institutions, citing annual sales. Lee said, “I’m working hard in the hope good lock will happen in an opportune time.”

Doobae System was presented with the 9th Korea Eco-friendly Grand Prize in the safety diagnosis equipment category in 2014 in recognition of its contributions to solving problems in such areas as safety evaluation.

Technology development achievements

-Development of ocean floor probing robot in a joint project with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology. (The Super-long Span Bridge R&D Center at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

-Development of a micro-robot for treating blood vessels ( the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s joint R&D project with Seoul National University, Jeonnam National University, Aviation University, and Hanyang University)

-Development of an instillator robot probing inhalation toxicity (SMBA’s joint R&D project with industry, academia and research circles)

-Development of a port diagnosis robot (MOLIT’s ocean technology R&D project)

Major certifications

-Excellent Invention (Hybrid) Business Certificate (June 2011)

-New Technology “NET” Certificate MOTIE, Dec. 2009)

-Management Innovation “MAIN-BIZ” SME Certificate (April 2009)

-Rated A at the SMBA’s “new technology  idea commercialization feasibility evaluation” (Aug. 2007)

-Rated A at the SMBA’s technology innovation “INNO-BIZ” evaluation (Dec. 2006)

-SMBA’s “New Technology Venture Firm” Certificate (March 2006)

-ISAO9001 Quality Management System Certificate (Jan. 2005)