RaonSecure is developing technology to assign digital identities to robots and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The initiative aims to establish a security framework that verifies the identities and permissions of AI systems and robots in real time, enabling their safe use in smart factories and autonomous manufacturing facilities.

RaonSecure said on Oct. 15 that it had been selected to lead a government research project titled "Development of Physical AI-Based Multi-Layer Security Technologies for Collaborative Intelligent Systems." The project is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA). Other participants include SSenStone, Tilon, Desilo, ITStation, Sogang University and Jeonbuk National University.

The research aims to develop technologies that identify and respond to security threats at different stages across physical AI systems, covering AI models, data, communications, devices and operating environments.

RaonSecure plans to extend its decentralized identity (DID) technology, currently used in South Korea's national mobile identification system, to physical AI. The company aims to build a framework that manages not only identities but also permissions, delegated authority and activity histories.

Once implemented, the system will allow robots to verify their credentials and permissions in real time whenever they operate machinery. Commands exceeding authorized permissions will be blocked during execution, making it easier to prevent hacking or malfunctions from leading to physical accidents.

RaonSecure expects the technology to help establish "trustworthy autonomy." The company plans to deploy it first in smart factories and autonomous manufacturing facilities before expanding into other physical AI sectors, including logistics, healthcare and defense.

"Success in the physical AI era will depend not on how capable AI systems are, but on how trustworthy they are," said RaonSecure CEO Lee Jung-ah. "We will use authentication technology to establish security standards that allow industries to confidently entrust operations to AI and machines."