South Korea deploys deadly robot in DMZSouth Korea deploys deadly robot in DMZ

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South Korea deploys deadly robot in DMZ

South Korea has reportedly deployed new high-tech robots equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers along its border with North Korea.

The unmanned SGR-1 robots were unleashed in the Demilaritarised Zone sometime last month as part of a trial program, the Yonhap news agency reports.

The Samsung Techwin-built machines reportedly have the capacity to target and kill intruders with built-in 5.5mm machine guns or 40mm grenade launchers.

Other features include advanced heat and motion detectors and video and audio communication systems.

Samsung Techwin insists the robots, built at a cost of $378,000 each, cannot fire without permission from a remote human operator.

"Human soldiers can easily fall asleep or allow for the depreciation of their concentration over time," Samsung Techwin spokesman Huh Kwang-hak told Stars and Stripes.

"But these robots have automatic surveillance, which doesn't leave room for anything resembling human laziness".

The company has also released a cheesy promotional video depicting the SGR-1 wiping out a group of armed commandos.

In the clip, one confused soldier spots the robot in the distance and asks, "what is that monster?", before the SGR-1 opens fire.

According the Yonhap report, South Korea will review the trial run in December before making a decision about whether to adopt the robots permanently.

Ninemsn

South Korea Deploys Defensive Robots at the DMZ

David Saetang, PC WorldJul 14, 2010 8:43 am

The SGR-1 Robot. Photo: Stars and StripesThe Demilitarized Zone (“DMZ”) is a 160-mile long, 2.5-mile wide strip of land that separates the two Koreas. South Korea has recently bumped up the security on its side of the DMZ with something straight out of your favorite sci-fi novel or videogame: a machinegun-equipped robot.

According to Stars and Stripes, the robot in question is the SGR-1, created by Samsung. It is equipped with a 5.5-milimeter machine gun and has both heat and motion detectors that can identify and shoot a potential target more than two miles away. In addition, the SGR-1 is capable of firing rubber bullets as a warning.

So the burning question: Why use robots?

Huh Kwang-hak, a spokesman for Samsung Techwin (the manufacturer of the SGR-1 robot), told Stars and stripes that the robots will not be used to replace soldiers, but to work alongside them in defensive matters.

So should we fear the immediate threat of super battles between robots on the battlefield?

The answer is no. First off, the SGR-1 is a purely defensive mechanism in that it is a stationary robot, which means that it cannot physically “get up and move about”, so it operates more like a tower or “turret gun”. Second, they are human-controlled. When the SGR-1 detects a potential threat, an alarm goes off and notifies a command center. The operator then uses the robots’ video and audio communication equipment to talk to the identified threat before ever firing a shot. From there, the Commanders make the final decision on whether or not to fire.

Lastly, it should be noted that while SGR-1s have the capability of automatic surveillance, they cannot automatically fire on their own at detected foreign objects or figures.

For obvious security reasons, locations of these robots have not been disclosed nor do we even know how many there are throughout the DMZ. (Or do you really want to find out yourself the hard way?) We can say, however, that it takes about one day to setup these robots and that they carry a price tag of $200,000 each.

The robots were actually deployed onto the DMZ more than a month ago and apparently their presence will continue at least through the end the year.

So it may not be the robot free-for-all you were expecting, but I think that’s probably better for us.

PC World

[Slybacon]

Enter the matrix

[Quill]

That's pretty scary. The DMZ in Korea has some species of animals that were once thought extinct. Also somewhat of a nature reserve

[Bread Filter]

That's pretty scary. The DMZ in Korea has some species of animals that were once thought extinct. Also somewhat of a nature reserve

 

It is supposed to be operated by a human controller. I suppose they could justify it as target practice though

[niggles]

Im setting up an introduction site for lonely killbots to meet other lonely killbots in the DMZ.

[watertrade]

I want one. In case anyone tries to penetrate my parameters

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.info4security.com/pictures/thumb/n/j/n/SGR1_SamsunTechwin.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.info4security.com/story.asp%3FstoryCode%3D4121852%26sectioncode%3D11&usg=__fbRit7FyfGhANjfX5SFjcc_zwes=&h=167&w=125&sz=22&hl=en&start=3&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=NJS7DgBXiMEGDM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=74&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSGR-1%2BRobot.%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7DBAU_en%26tbs%3Disch:1

[psili sausage]

Johnny Five is Alive!!!

[gromit]

Human controlled .....hmmmm.....isn't South Korea the Mecca of online gaming? Pretty smart way of getting those counter-strike & starcraft players into the military.

Edited July 15, 2010 by dr lucien sanchez