Kyungil University (President Hyun-Tae Jeong) presented the largest booth and the best autonomous vehicle technology among local universities at the 'Daegu International Future Auto Expo 2021 (DIFA 2021)' held at EXCO in Daegu from October 21 to 24.

'DIFA 2021' is an event co-hosted by Daegu Metropolitan City and the Korea Academy for Automotive Engineering, in which 161 companies and universities from 15 countries participated. A variety of exhibitions were held at this event, such as the finished cars of auto-driving cars and electric cars, as well as smart car parts and advanced driver assistance system parts services.

Kyungil University set up the largest booth among local universities and exhibited a self-driving shuttle bus (LESTAR) that acquired self-driving license for the first time in a domestic university. It also exhibited a ultra-compact self-driving electric car (D2) and self-driving vehicle based on a hybrid vehicle (IONIQ 1.6) made by students. The self-driving shuttle bus (LESTAR) is a vehicle platform with level 3 or higher autonomous driving, and has obtained a temporary driving license from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This bus is currently undergoing demonstration and regional optimization for the section from Kyungil University to Hayang rail station, and is scheduled to start transporting students on the actual road from next month.

The ultra-compact self-driving electric car (D2) is an autonomous vehicle platform that has been converted from a small electric vehicle, enabling level 3 autonomous driving within a designated section. It can be used for education according to the desired stage of educational institutions, from hardware production to software programming. The hybrid vehicle (IONIQ 1.6)-based car participated in the ���2020 University Student Autonomous Driving Contest��� and is a meaningful self-driving vehicle platform created by Kyungil University students themselves. Kyungil University achieved the above achievements based on the support of the Kyungil University Link Plus (LINC+) project group, establishing a cooperative system with the autonomous vehicle convergence technology research institute and industry-academia cooperation family companies. This achievement is also based on supporting students majoring in autonomous driving technology with practical education links such as professional and continuous education, practical field training, and overseas programs for global competency.

Byung-Yong Yoo, head of the autonomous vehicle convergence technology research center at Kyungil University, said, ���For the development of autonomous vehicles, we will advance the autonomous driving technology and build autonomous driving mobility services based on the autonomous driving vehicle platform possessed by Kyungil University.��� Through this, we will work hard to nurture experts in autonomous vehicles.���

President Jeong Hyun-tae said, ���The current achievement is due to the invitation of the best autonomous vehicle research professor in Korea, the professor���s start-up based on confidence in autonomous vehicle technology, and the full support of the school.��� He emphasized, ���Kyungil University will shape the future of automobiles in Korea.���