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It looks like an armored car but moves about freely without a driver, nimbly dodging obstacles in its path. At 3.1 m long and 1.5 m high -- about an adult¡¯s neck height -- it weighs 1.2 tons. It is equipped with a 5.56 mm gun, but no matter how many shots hostile troops may fire at it, there will be no bloodshed on the Korean side. An operator can control the vehicle from 1 km in the rear and access all the onboard equipment like the craft¡¯s GPS system, reconnaissance camera and laser scanner by computer.
The vehicle, known as the XAV (Experimental Autonomous Vehicle), may seem a first step in what to many may seem a sci-fi scenario of robotic creatures stalking one another across the battlefield. But the Army and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) are seriously planning the introduction of a range of robotic weaponry from 2010-2015.
At the Army corps and division levels, cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that provide wide-range views of the battlefield are expected to be deployed soon. UAVs are able to spot minute movement 100 km away from the target. Domestically produced ones have already been in operation since 1999, but, according to the Defense Ministry, much more advanced high and medium altitude UAV systems will come next year.
On land, the "dog/horse" military robot will stalk its way into enemy positions. To be developed jointly by the Defense Ministry and Ministry of Information and Communication with a W33.4 billion budget (US$33.4 million) by 2011, it will be fitted with either wheels or six legs to negotiate stairs, slopes and other uneven terrain.
From there, things move into territory more familiar from ¡°Star Wars.¡± A concept sketch from the ADD features two combat robots: a multi-purpose reconnaissance robot and a proximity reconnaissance machine. They will be gathering information in street battles, which are particularly casualty-intensive.
Once they are developed, it is time for light combat robots, which take the information from proximity reconnaissance robots and then stride into battle.
The ADD is also promoting a plan to develop unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV) after 2020. These drones can engage in bombing attacks or air battles. The U.S is testing two UCAV models named X-45 and X-49. Unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV), meanwhile, will be pursuing enemy submarines or removing mines in the sea.
Experts hail combat robots as economical weapons that can carry out military operations in dangerous battlefields without causing casualties. The ADD said development of the various robot weapons would cost W800-900 billion by 2018, and by that time, Korea will have emerged as one of the world¡¯s three big robot technology powers.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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