The South Korean capital Seoul is rolling out smart city technology to track children and patrol robots to speed emergency responses.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is introducing a system to prevent missing children by using Bluetooth beacons, small wireless devices that work based on Bluetooth Low Energy, repeatedly transmitting constant signals for location tracking. SMG plans to apply the technology at 15 daycare centres in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

The beacons will be attached to children when going on a field trip or playing outside so their whereabouts can be automatically transmitted to the district-operated control centre in the event of their disappearance. Operators can then check the surrounding surveillance cameras to track down the exact location immediately.

Moreover, Seoul will be the first city in the country to introduce autonomous patrol robots. The city will conduct a pilot operation using these robots to patrol certain neighbourhoods and obtain real-time visual data through the mounted camera, which will automatically notify the district-operated control centre to be able to respond quickly to any emergency situation.

The SMG’s pilot smart city project for public safety and welfare will also be conducted in Gwanak-gu, which aims to address local issues by applying three smart city services – smart elderly halls, smart beacon technology and autonomous patrol robots.

Seoul says it plans to continue promoting smart city projects that allow citizens to be involved in proposing smart public services and improve local issues to address complex and diverse urban issues and improve the quality of life for citizens.