SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Rotem Co., a tank and train-making affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, has clinched an order for the development of a multi-legged robot for military use for the first time in South Korea.
The company announced on Thursday that it signed an agreement with the Defense Industry Technology Center under the Agency for Defense Development for the research and development of a multi-legged counterterrorism robot.
Under terms of the agreement, Hyundai Rotem will complete the development of the robot by 2024 and supply trial products, mission equipment and remote control devices to the Korean Army.
The multi-legged anti-terror robot is a four-legged walking robot that can move through extreme terrain and paths with many obstacles. In addition, it can be controlled on a remote basis.
It can be used for multiple purposes since it’s possible to freely attach or detach a variety of mission equipment, including a robot arm, remote armament control device, flash-bang grenade, tear gas sprayer and body temperature measuring device.
With this project, Hyundai Rotem aims to upgrade its multi-legged platform technology, as well as to strengthen its technological capabilities to better cope with the future of the defense market, which is going through a major shift based on robotics and state-of-the-art technology.
In the meantime, the company plans to carry out this project in collaboration with local robotics maker Rainbow Robotics in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed in April.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)