Korean researchers have created a robot-based system that can measure electromagnetic waves with ultra-high precision, using completely domestic technology.
Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) researchers combined advanced robotic control with in-house design, calibration, and measurement technologies, creating a system that is both highly accurate and flexible for various applications.
The team claims it can control positions with incredible accuracy—down to one-seventh the thickness of a human hair.
Robotic wave measurement
Electromagnetic wave bands used in next-generation communication components, semiconductor package antennas, and aircraft radar have diversified in recent years.
High-frequency bands above tens of gigahertz (GHz) have very short wavelengths, so even slight misalignment of a measurement target can significantly affect results. This creates a need for highly precise measurement technology, reports Seoul Economics Daily (SED).
KRISS addressed this by introducing robotic technology that can precisely control the positions of both the measuring instrument and the target. Instead of relying only on commercial robots, the team developed core technologies in-house, including system design, control programs, and position calibration, to build an ultra-precision measurement platform.
The system uses six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) robotics, allowing movement in all directions—up, down, left, right, forward, and backward—as well as rotation, and supports various scan geometries. It can measure electromagnetic waves across a wide frequency range of up to 750 GHz. The researchers achieved antenna alignment control within 10 micrometers (μm), about one-seventh the thickness of a human hair, ensuring high measurement reliability in sensitive high-frequency bands.
Next-gen testing system
The system addresses the space and cost limitations of conventional electromagnetic wave testing facilities by using a robot with flexible mobility. Instead of requiring large installations and high construction costs, it allows the robot to move precisely around the target and perform scans. This enables repeated high-precision measurements in confined spaces at lower cost.
These features are particularly important for defense applications. In weapons system development, scaled-down models are often used to evaluate electromagnetic wave scattering characteristics. Small errors in shape or positioning can significantly affect results when applied to full-scale systems. The ultra-precision control technology helps reduce such errors, improving the reliability of these evaluations, reports SED.
In addition, the system’s design and control software are entirely based on proprietary technology. This allows customized control, monitoring, and measurement configurations for different industrial needs. It can be adapted for a wide range of targets, including complex aircraft radar structures, phased-array antenna modules, and semiconductor antennas that require extremely precise control.
“This achievement is an electromagnetic wave measurement system that overcomes the limitations of conventional fixed measurement methods by combining the flexible mobility of robots with the precision control technology independently built by KRISS,” said Kwon Jae-yong, a principal researcher in the KRISS Electromagnetic Wave Measurement Group, as reported by SED.
In the future, AI will be integrated to further enhance electromagnetic wave measurement technologies across key national strategic sectors, including defense, semiconductors, and next-generation communications.
Originally written by: Jijo Malayil
Source: Interesting Engineering
Published on: 31 March 2026
Link to original article: Korean robot system measures electromagnetic waves with hair-thin precision
