Otech Co., Ltd. (Chairman Kang Sung-hee), a domestic special purpose vehicle manufacturing company, announced on the 17th that it has completed the development of an ‘improved ambulance’ based on its own technology.
Otech won the contract for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's civil-military technology cooperation power support system development project, and as a participating organization with Kia, the main organizer, began developing an improved ambulance. It began research and development in 2021, and passed the Army's military operational suitability assessment and final evaluation for project completion in December of last year.
The existing ambulances operated by the military were pointed out as having a high center of gravity as they combined a rear space for emergency use with the frame of a 5/4t truck (K-311) for cargo transport. However, the improved ambulance developed this time applied a low-center body design of a small tactical vehicle to further increase maneuverability and stability.
In addition, the vibration shock absorption function during driving has been improved, and the two-story bed configuration, electric lift application, and wider interior space have enabled quick and stable patient transport.
In addition, by installing negative and positive pressure equipment that is effective in protecting patients with infectious diseases and preventing the spread of infectious diseases, it has become possible to block the inflow of contaminated outside air and carry out relief activities even in chemical, biological, and radiological risk areas.
In particular, the negative and positive pressure-related technology that Otech developed and owns was applied to around 200 Otech Solati negative pressure ambulances distributed to medical centers nationwide in 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak was at its early stages. At that time, the mobile negative pressure ward that Otech developed for the first time in Korea was installed at Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital, making a big contribution to the safe isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients, which became a hot topic.
Additionally, the improved rescue vehicle has its own power generation capability, allowing it to operate medical equipment and heating and cooling devices for more than two hours even in situations where there is no power supply.
The Ministry of National Defense is expected to fully deploy the improved ambulance in 2026, enabling it to be used in more diverse situations and regions. The outlook for overseas exports is also bright, which is expected to contribute to the prestige of K-Defense Industries.
According to an Otech official, “We think it is very meaningful that many of Otech’s patented technologies can be expanded to the field of civil-military technology cooperation, ultimately contributing to protecting the safety of our soldiers by replacing aging equipment,” adding, “We are also exploring the possibility of exporting to countries such as Mexico, Chile, and Kazakhstan, and we expect to see results soon.”
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