Robo-Soldier to Patrol South Korean Border

ABC News ^ | Sept. 29, 2006 | JOOHEE CHO

[driftdiver]

South Korea has unveiled an armed robot that it says will able to detect and repel intruders along its heavily armed border with North Korea.

The so-called "Intelligent Surveillance and Guard Robot" uses visual and infra-red detection to distinguish between humans, trees, and vehicles, and can do so from 2.5 miles away during the day and about half that at night.

"Until now, technology allowed these robots to conduct monitoring function[s] only. But [now] our robots can detect suspicious moving objects, literally go after them, and can even fire at them," said Sang-Il Han, principal research engineer at Samsung Techwin.

Once the target is within 10 meters, it will demand a pre-programmed military secret code. If this code is not provided, it could give three possible responses: sound an alarm, fire rubber bullets or open fire with a K-3 machine gun.

Since 2003 South Korea' s government and private sector have invested $5 million each on developing military robots in an attempt to prevent future loss of military manpower — especially important in light of South Korea's dwindling birthrate.

This ten million dollar project is set to be marketed next year. The robots will also be tauted for use in guarding civilian facilities such as airports, power plants and oil pipelines.

[driftdiver]

Cool robo cop stuff

[Caged in Canuckistan]

"Drop your weapon, you have 20 seconds to comply." - ED 9000

[P-40]

Except it runs old pirated copies of Windows as its operating system. :)

[Trueblackman]

Here you go boys!!!

[Deaf Smith]

So in theory it could be programed to eliminate Feral Hogs?

[isthisnickcool]

Hey, I have an idea. Instead of a fence on the Mexican border.....

[kinoxi]

The initial price will be around $200,000 per robot

That seems very inexpensive for what it can purportedly do. Why can't the US test a few of these out along the Iran- Iraq border?

[VOA]

That seems very inexpensive for what it can purportedly do.

Agreed.
I wonder if "the rest of the world" will start ordering them and
then economies of scale will really bring that on down to say $50K.

[Constantine XIII]

LOL, wow.

I hope they used a strong password. :D

[kinoxi]

I wonder if "the rest of the world" will start ordering them and then economies of scale will really bring that on down to say $50K.

I wouldn't mind having one. For novelty purposes only of course...
:)

[Catholic Canadian]

Can it tell the difference between Muslims and non-Muslims?

[tricky_k_1972]

If it's wearing a turban or burka, put a cap in it.

It's the only way to be sure.

(/sarcasm ?)

[tricky_k_1972]

[tricky_k_1972]

See post #13, sorta looks more like Johnny 5.

[steveo]

I hope they used a strong password.

Bosco.

[tricky_k_1972]

Killroy, or better yet "shoot me".

[familyop]

The Daewoo K3 fires a 5.56x45mm NATO round (size of an M-16 round). It weights 15.1 lbs., hold 250 rounds of belt ammo or a 30-round box magazine. It fires 700 rounds per minute with a belt (closer to the rate of our M-60) or about 1000 rounds per minute from the box magazine (far slower than our SAW).

[Rakkasan1]

I wonder if the college yutes in Seoul will protest the robot's presence in their country.

[knarf]

That was the one I was thinkin' 'bout .. yoo betcha' !

[EQAndyBuzz]

They should put one in the federal archive building.