Mar 29, 2025

World's first AI acoustic detection solution

News│Focus

LOAS is an innovative acoustic diagnostic solution company that became the first in the world to manage industrial safety through “sound.”

Although it is a startup that has been operating for only five years since its establishment, LOAS has already supplied solutions to some of Korea’s largest corporations and is also gaining attention in overseas markets.

We met with Jaehyun Lee, CEO of LOAS, whose AI-powered acoustic data analysis safety solutions are also being utilized in collaboration with Korea Western Power as part of its industrial safety management initiatives.

AI Safety Management Solutions for Product Quality Inspection and Facility Anomaly Detection

A robot moves through a factory filled with noise and production equipment, collecting subtle abnormal acoustic data from machinery and transmitting the location visually to a monitoring center. This is the AI-based acoustic detection solution developed by LOAS, which diagnoses and manages abnormal situations among the countless sounds generated in manufacturing processes.

“LOAS is the world’s first company to commercialize unmanned technology capable of analyzing and diagnosing industrial facility sounds.

By implementing an acoustic detection, tracking, and analysis system using multi-channel microphone sensors, we provide solutions that detect cracks in industrial equipment, pipeline leaks, and abnormal noises, while delivering real-time visualized information whenever abnormalities occur.”

LOAS independently developed its innovative advanced acoustic inspection engine, “AI Square.” Based on this technology, the company is uniquely capable of tracking sound source locations in real time, analyzing abnormal sounds, and converting acoustic information into visual imagery.

Jaehyun Lee stated, “There were countless challenges in developing the core technology behind LOAS’s software engine, which can identify only specific acoustic data within three-dimensional spaces and diagnose abnormalities. Our researchers even sacrificed weekends, and after more than two years of effort, we successfully completed the development.”

Among LOAS’s key products equipped with its proprietary AI Square technology is the robot system “Tfoi,” which has been deployed at Korea Western Power. Tfoi is an integrated monitoring solution that automatically detects abnormal sounds, gas pipeline leaks, and electrical noise generated within industrial facilities.

Mutual Growth and Overseas Expansion Through a Customized Robot System for Korea Western Power

LOAS’s relationship with Korea Western Power began in 2020 through the supply of an acoustic camera measurement device called “SoundCam.”

In 2023, the company participated in the “Power Generation Data Utilization Startup & Venture Support Program” hosted by Korea Western Power and won second place, leading directly to field demonstration opportunities.

“In 2024, we conducted a one-month demonstration project for a data collection robot system at the Seoincheon Power Plant Headquarters.

After spending approximately one week creating the autonomous driving map, the very next day the robot began operation, it detected three LNG micro leaks in aging high-pressure pipelines, helping prevent equipment failures and safety accidents.”

In recognition of these achievements, Korea Western Power and LOAS jointly received the “2024 Second Half WIN-WIN HONORS” award hosted by Korea Federation of SMEs.

From March through June this year, LOAS plans to further enhance a Korea Western Power-customized robot system before deploying two units of the autonomous driving robot model Tfoi at Korea Western Power power plant sites.

Tfoi patrols sites 24 hours a day collecting acoustic data and, whenever abnormal signs are detected, pinpoints and delivers the exact problem location. Users can easily manage the system through web access on mobile devices and computers, while abnormal signs are provided in the form of image and video data for intuitive confirmation.

“We were deeply impressed by Korea Western Power’s commitment to mutual growth with technologically outstanding SMEs, and we sincerely appreciate the strong support they provided us.

By introducing our unmanned facility diagnostic system into Korea Western Power facilities, we hope to contribute to reducing serious industrial accidents and improving operational efficiency at power plants. Furthermore, we hope LOAS can become an important part of future overseas plant business expansion.”

As demand for unmanned facility diagnostic systems continues to grow, LOAS’s robot-based safety diagnostic solutions are receiving even greater attention.

In particular, the company is attracting significant overseas interest and plans to expand into six overseas companies this year. In April, LOAS will also conduct demonstration projects with local companies in Switzerland and Germany.

Additionally, the company plans to expand its business into offshore wind power plants and the defense industry.

Jaehyun Lee and LOAS will continue striving to provide higher-quality services to industrial sites through innovative technologies and will not stop challenging themselves to become a company leading the global market.