"Robot Pilots Aircraft Instead of Humans" KAIST PIBOT Receives High Praise from IEEE RAM

The scope of areas where robots can perform work in place of humans is expanding. This is now becoming possible even in the field of aviation. A domestic research team has presented an “aircraft autonomous piloting framework for humanoid robots” based on proprietary technology, which has been recognized as a world-class achievement in robotics research.

PIBOT is onboard the aircraft (KLA-100), operating the instrument panel and control stick. KAIST

KAIST announced on the 5th that Professor Hyunchul Shim and his research team at the School of Electrical Engineering have proposed an autonomous piloting framework for the humanoid pilot robot “PIBOT,” earning the “2026 IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine (IEEE RAM) Best Paper Award.”

The receipt of the Best Paper Award is evidence that the research results proposed by the team have demonstrated global excellence. IEEE RAM selected the best paper through a review of articles published last year. The award ceremony was held on the 4th (local time) during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Vienna, Austria.

The team received high praise for implementing Physical AI technology at an exceptionally advanced level.

Recently, humanoid robot technology has been advancing rapidly in terms of motor performance, such as tumbling and executing complex movements. However, in the industrial sector, practical applicability in real-world environments is becoming a more important factor.

From this perspective, the team’s research is significant in that it demonstrates how humanoid robots, beyond simply walking or carrying objects, can perform highly complex tasks such as piloting aircraft, based on artificial intelligence (AI).

Pibot System Framework. KAIST

Currently under development by the team, the PIBOT pilot robot is designed to acquire the specialized knowledge required to operate an aircraft and to recognize and respond to actual flight situations in real time. Through this, the research presents a new direction for the application of humanoid robot technology, termed “Expert Physical AI.”

PIBOT is particularly meaningful as the research is based solely on domestic technology. The team was selected in 2021 for the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) Future Challenge Defense Technology R&D Project, receiving a total of 5.7 billion won in support over five years.

Having successfully completed the first phase of the project, the team has been developing a second-phase pilot robot since 2024, with a human-like physique and joint structure suitable for actual aircraft operation. Going forward, the team plans to collaborate with relevant organizations to expand this technology to the operation of various vehicles, including ground vehicles and ships.

This research involved doctoral candidates Minsung Jae, Gurie Kang, and Hyeongju Kim as co-first authors, with Professor Shim as the corresponding author. The paper can be accessed via IEEE Xplore.

(From left) Minsung Jae, PhD candidate; Gurie Kang, PhD candidate; Professor Hyunchul Shim; Hyeongju Kim, PhD candidate. KAIST

Professor Shim said, “The pilot robot is the result of a grassroots research project based on purely domestic technology, which our team has proposed for the first time in the world. Winning the Best Paper Award is proof that this technology has achieved global excellence,” adding, “Our team will continue to advance research so that humanoid robots can assist humans in real-world environments and safely operate complex systems.”

Meanwhile, IEEE RAM is an academic magazine published by the Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) under the world’s largest technical society, IEEE. The magazine covers the latest research achievements and industry trends in robotics and automation, sharing robot technologies with practical industrial applications with researchers from both industry and academia.

As of last year, IEEE RAM recorded an Impact Factor (IF) of 7.1, making it the second most influential publication in the IEEE robotics field. The Best Paper Award is given to research with significant academic and industrial impact, selected from among the papers published after a rigorous peer review process.

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