Minsung Sung

✉️ ms.sung_at_postech.ac.kr
✉️ minsung.sung_at_iff-extern.fraunhfer.de
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About Me

I am a research engineer at Fraunhofer IFF in Germany, working on safe and reliable grasping and manipulation for collaborative robots.

I earned my Ph.D. in 2022 from POSTECH (South Korea), advised by Prof. Son-Cheol Yu at HERO Lab. My research focused on developing persistent and robust perception of field robots in unstructured environments.

Following my Ph.D., I continued at POSTECH as a post-doc and later as a research professor. I also spent time at the University of Tokyo (Japan) as a visiting researcher.

I have experience across the full lifecycle of autonomous field robots — from hardware design and software development to ROS-based system integration, simulation, deep learning, robotic intelligence, scene perception, 3D localization and mapping, as well as extensive field experimentation.

Below is a summary of my key achievements. For the full bio, please refer to my CV.

Research Interest

Field Robots / Autonomous Robots in Unstructured Environment
Deep-learning-based Robotic Perception / Multi-modal Sensor Fusion
Reinforcement Learning
Next-generation System Design

Education

Ph.D. in Dept. of Convergence IT Engineering (CiTE) - Feb. 2022
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Advisor: Prof. Son-Cheol YuDoctoral Dissertation: Persistent Autonomy through Sim-to-Field Transfer Learning based Robust Perception of Underwater Robot System in Unknown Environment

B.S. in Dept. of Convergence IT Engineering (CiTE) - Feb. 2016
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Summa Cum Laude (GPA: 3.99/4.30)

Positions

Research Engineer - Nov. 2024 ~ Current
Kognitive Robotiks Group
Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (Fraunhofer IFF), Magdeburg, Germany
Research Professor - Jan. 2024 ~ Oct. 2024
Division of Advanced Nuclear Eng.
POSTECH, Pohang, Korea
Visiting Researcher - Jan. 2024 ~ Feb. 2024
NEST ARTERD Project Fellow
The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Postdoctoral Researcher - Feb. 2022 ~ Dec. 2023
Dept. of Convergence IT Eng.
POSTECH, Pohang, Korea
Lecturer - Sep. 2020 ~ Dec. 2023
Division of Advanced Nuclear Eng.
POSTECH, Pohang, Korea

Publications

I have published 8 journal papers, 25+ international conference papers, and 10+ domestic conference papers. Below is a selection of my journal publications:

(For the full list of publications, please refer to my CV or publications page. More details on my research can be found on the research page)

S. Rho, H. Joe, M. Sung, S. Kim, and S.-C. Yu, "Multi Sonar Fusion-based Underwater 3D Reconstruction Robust to Encountered Yaw Angle of the AUV", IEEE Access, 2025
J. Kim, T. Kim, S. Song, M. Sung, and S.-C. Yu, "Parent-child Underwater Robot-based Manipulation System for Underwater Structure Maintenance", Control Engineering Practice, 2023
M. Sung, and S.-C. Yu, "State-of-the-art Technologies of Underwater/Deep-sea Robots", Korea Robotics Society Review, 2023
H. Joe, H. Cho, M. Sung, J. Kim, and S.-C. Yu, "Sensor Fusion of Two Sonar Devices for Underwater 3D Mapping with an AUV", Autonomous Robots, 2021
M. Sung, J. Kim, M. Lee, B. Kim, T. Kim, J. Kim, and S.-C. Yu, "Realistic Sonar Image Simulation Using Deep Learning for Underwater Object Detection", International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems, 2020
M. Sung , J. Kim, H. Cho, M. Lee, and S.-C. Yu, "Underwater-Sonar-Image-Based 3D Point Cloud Reconstruction for High Data Utilization and Object Classification Using a Neural Network", Electronics, 2020
M. Sung, and S.-C. Yu, "Sonar-based Yaw Estimation of Target Object Using Shape Prediction on Viewing Angle Variation with Neural Network", Ocean Systems Engineering, 2020
M. Sung, H. Cho, T. Kim, H. Joe, and S.-C. Yu, "Crosstalk Removal in Forward Scan Sonar Image Using Deep Learning for Object Detection", IEEE Sensors Journal, 2019

Projects

I have filed 1 PCT patent, registered 20+ domestic patents, and completed 2 technology transfers while carrying out the following projects:
(For the full list of patents, please refer to my CV or publications page. More details on projects can be found on the project page)

POSTECH-KHNP Robot Research Center, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Jun. 2024 ~ Oct. 2024
R&D of SLAM Technology for UUV, Ministry of National Defense, Oct. 2023 ~ Oct. 2024
Smart Aquaculture System for Small-scale Fish Farms, Ministry of Science and ICT, May. 2023 ~ Oct. 2024
Korea Floating Infrastructure Research Center, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Apr. 2023 ~ Oct. 2024
Gyeongbuk Sea Grant Center, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Apr. 2017 ~ Oct. 2024
Research on Deep Learning for High-frequency Imaging Sonar, LIG Nex 1, Apr. 2021 ~ Oct. 2024
Research on Digital System for Supporting Diver Fisheries, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Apr. 2022 ~ Dec. 2023
R&D on Coastal Nutrient Concentration Sudden Change Detection System for Enhancing Shellfish Survival, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Apr. 2022 ~ Dec. 2023
Safety Support Robot for Underwater Leisure Activities, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Apr. 2022 ~ Dec. 2023
Research Center for Smart Submerged Floating Tunnel System, Ministry of Science and ICT, Jun. 2017 ~ Dec. 2023

Honor and Award

Best Oral Presentation Award, The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (KOSFAS) Conference 2020, GNU Convention Center, Jinju, Korea
Student Poster Award (2nd Place), 2018 IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Symposium, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Student Poster Award, OCEANS 2017 Marine Technology Society/IEEE Conference, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, UK
Excellence Award, 2017 Super Challenge Hackathon, Tech Incubator Town, Seoul, Korea
Student Poster Award, 2016 IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Symposium, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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