Counter-terrorism robots jointly developed by Rainbow Robotics and Hyundai Rotem (Courtesy of Rainbow Robotics) Samsung Electronics Co. -backed Rainbow Robotics Co. has delivered its multi-legged counter-terrorism robots jointly developed with Hyundai Rotem Co. to the South Korean Army, gearing up for mass production of military-use counter-terrorism robots.
The company announced on Tuesday that the prototype of its four-legged counter-terrorism robot is readying for an evaluation by the ROK Army as the country’s first quadruped robot for military use.
The army will test the robot's performance for the next six months to decide whether to deploy it for real military use.
Rainbow Robotics teamed up with Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai Motor Co.'s rolling stock and military equipment-making unit, to develop the counter-terrorism robot with four legs like a dog.
They spent the past two years developing the robot under a state-led fast-track research and development program designed to apply the latest technology to military weapon systems.
The robot can walk on all fours at a speed of over 4 kilometers per hour (2.48 miles per hour) and can walk up and down steps over 20 centimeters high. Equipped with cameras, it can patrol and detect any threats on the site.
Later, it can be also added with various equipment, including pistols, according to the company.
Counter-terrorism robots jointly developed by Rainbow Robotics and Hyundai Rotem (Courtesy of Rainbow Robotics) Rainbow Robotics, a Korean collaborative and humanoid robot maker, was founded in 2011 as the humanoid robot research center of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), one of Korea’s most prestigious universities.
It also has been cooperating with Hyundai Rotem to develop quadruped walking robots, bipedal platforms and autonomous mobile robots.
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The counter-terrorism robot under evaluation by the South Korean Army was developed with Rainbow Robotics’ proprietary robotics technology.
With the development of the robot, the company will prepare its mass production while planning to develop the robot’s operation and maintenance systems and advance artificial intelligence technology for robots.
If the robot passes the military test, it will be the first quadruped robot deployed to the ROK Army.