Hearo is a conceptual wearable device, a bracelet designed to aid the deaf and hard of hearing, developed for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) National Start-up Contest (공군창업경진대회). Unlike typical projects focused on physical prototypes, Hearo emphasized a realistic manufacturing plan and profit model due to resource limitations faced by our team of active-duty airmen. Utilizing an Arduino Nano BLE Sense with an integrated microphone, we implemented a custom sound recognition AI to identify specific sounds, like the wearer's name. Upon recognition, Hearo vibrates and indicates the direction of the sound source, addressing our personal need for clear communication during noisy activities like shooting practice. We explored various government policies and subsidies to support future development.

Despite limited access to the internet and materials, and working only during our evening free time, we focused on the core aspects of product development: AI implementation, manufacturing planning, and business strategy. This project provided entrepreneurial experience, highlighting the importance of conceptual design and sustainable business models. By focusing on the potential of Hearo and the practicalities of its production, we demonstrated the ability to innovate and address real-world challenges, even within the constraints of military service.

We wrote a business plan and presented our project to a panel of judges, receiving positive feedback on our innovative approach and potential for future development. We were placed in the top 13 teams and were invited to the award ceremony at the "The Korea Economic Daily(한국경제신문사)" Headquarters in Seoul.

For my mandatory military service, I decided to put my English skills to good use as well as replenish my rusty speaking. I applied for the Korean-English military interpreter(영어 어학병) program for the Republic of Korea Air Force.

After a translation and interpretation test as well as a series of interviews, I was officially recruited as an airman starting January of 2024. I was stationed at one of the biggest international airports on the globe, Incheon International Airport(ICN).

My role is to assist the Chief of Military Protocol when military related international guests require English translation aid. I also assist Korean military generals on their way to their business trips. Spending my time here I experienced international diplomacy firsthand.

For my MECH300 class my team and I were assigned to design and build a robot that could cross a jungle gym with sporadically missing bars. It was my first time building a machine without any guidance so I immediately knew it was going to be a challenging task.

Brachiation is a form of transportation for apes, think of when tarzan swings from branch to branch; one arm goes after the other. Thinking that this was the most efficient way of traversing a jungle gym I came up with a moving mechanism and persuaded my fellow teammates.

My team and I decided to make the body and grippers out of lightweight acrylic and Arduino with servo motors for the powertrain mechanism. I designed the powertrain and gearbox so that a minimum amount of motors and gears were used to reduce weight and prevent gear slip. Using Excel my team and I made a simple program that visualized each motor's angular displacement and grip strength.


With my knowledge of C++ and Arduino, I used a motor controller to control each motor's precise movement for each phase of brachiation. I also designed and arranged the circuitry as symmetric as possible so that there was no unnecessary shear force while the robot progressed.

After four months of brainstorming and building, our team was able to get the shortest crossing time out of all of the competing teams.

For the electrical safety examination, my teammate(YDS) and I designed and fabricated custom PCB panels, most notably the RTDS (Ready to Drive Sound) circuit. This involved meticulous component selection and layout to ensure reliable signal processing from the brake sensor and activation button, making a loud audible alarm. The panels were then carefully assembled and tested, contributing directly to the vehicle's successful safety inspection.



The photo above is the PCB for the TSAL(Tractive system active light) circuit. The TSAL circuit is a safety feature that indicates when the car is ready to drive. The circuit is connected to the motor controller and the battery management system. When the car is ready to drive the TSAL circuit lights up and the driver can start the car.


We also developed countless other PCBs through trial and error, often failing to meet the safety regulations, going back to square one. Although we tried our best and made it to the KSAE competition, undergraduates building an electric car without the help of electrical engineers and professional guidance had its limitations and we failed to pass the safety inspection. However it was rewarding seeing our hard work pay off to see our to-be sophomores eventually pass the electrical safety examination in 2024.



I learned a valuable lesson where even the smallest of components requires countless hours of attention and feedback to achieve its final role in the grand scheme of the machine. This lesson has stuck to me and continued to grow as I learned more and more about the production of a race car. And the joy of finally watching your idea move from idea to paper to reality is incomparable to anything in this world.

Around winter break of 2022, our club’s seniors graduated and juniors shifted their attention to the job market, the responsibility of managing the club was in our sophomore’s hands.

After carefully dissecting last year's(2022) racecar and dedicating countless hours to study sessions over winter break, the challenge of designing our 2023 vehicle began. Eager to push beyond the boundaries of standard mechanical engineering curricula, I chose to join the powertrain team. This team's critical responsibility lay in the intricate task of delivering power to the motor via a sophisticated battery system, and implementing vital safety mechanisms throughout the entire vehicle. This opportunity allowed me to delve into the complex world of high-voltage electrical systems, battery management, and crucial safety protocols, equipping me with invaluable skills beyond traditional mechanical engineering knowledge.

During my freshman year I wanted to join a club. A club where I could experience the engineering process in reality(and also drink beer). Eoulsure was the perfect fit for that mission. Eoulsure in Korean is a compound word Eoul(어울) meaning ‘getting along with’ and sure(수레, pronounced soo-re) meaning ‘wagon’ or ‘car’. As you can tell from the name, Eoulsure is a club where people interested in automobiles come together to compete in the annual Korean Student Formula Grand Prix.

We competed in the E-formula division where the car runs on lithium batteries and a motor instead of the conventional diesel engine. E-formulas are generally considered more challenging than regular formulas and bajas as there are a lot more safety regulations and systems that need to be implemented to the car. 2022 was the first year Eoulsure competed in E-formula, starting from square one with no knowledge of making an electric car.

At the start of the semester freshmen like me were not used to using heavy duty tools like grinders, welders, and drills, we were first taught how to use each tool along with safety precautions. Summer break was when the actual building began, sophomores and juniors did the design process while us freshmen were stuck out in the garage underneath the scorching sun cutting pipes and pieces of metal.
We went to Gunsan(군산) with our car to compete on the track. Although the process was hard(dealing with the heat was even harder) I felt fulfilled seeing my contribution on the final product. By observing from behind their shoulders I learnt a lot from my upperclassmen; I was glad that I chose engineering as my career.

As a corporal in the Air Force I had nothing to do during my free time. Of course there was always going to the gym, playing video games with my mates; but none of that was fulfilling to the mind. After deep consideration on how to spend my time I decided to study the basics of HTML. Cause why not? I had nothing else to do anyways.

By simulating some HTML and CSS I naturally wanted to make my own website. Rather than explaining my projects to every new person I meet, I thought it would be a good way to introduce myself and my projects in a more orderly fashion.
Learning Bootstrap helped me a lot in organizing code and simulating effects.
This website is the result of my HTML learning journey. I hope you enjoy reading.

P.S. I'm still learning so please mind the bugs!!