Hyundai Rotem begins development of 'multi-legged walking robot' for counter-terrorism operations

Hyundai Rotem will develop the first multi-legged walking robot in Korea.

Hyundai Rotem announced that it had a ceremony for the rapid research and development of multi-legged walking robots for the Defense Industry Technology Center and counter-terrorism operation under the supervision of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration at the Gwacheon Government Complex.

Through the agreement, Hyundai Rotem will develop multi-legged walking robots for counterterrorism operations by 2024 and deliver prototypes such as robotic bodies, mission equipment, and remote control devices to the army.

This project is the first rapid research and development project in Korea. This project is to develop and operate a weapon system with advanced technology in accordance with the rapidly changing technology trend in two years. It can be linked up to power with a simplified procedure, based on future needs.

The multi-legged walking robot for counterterrorism operations is a four-legged robot that can freely maneuver in the rough and obstacle sections of the field and can be operated remotely.

Depending on the purpose, various mission equipment such as robot arms, remote armed control devices, flash bombs, tear gas sprayers, and body temperature measurement devices can be attached and detached, so they can be used for various purposes.

In particular, Hyundai Rotem said that multi-legged walking robots for counterterrorism operations are expected to be able to protect people’s lives by being dispatched in dangerous operations.

For example, in the case of an urban area operation, including a terrorist situation, it can be put into the lead to identify the enemy in advance and take early action, and it can carry out surveillance patrol missions between infantry troop operations. This is because it can be used for anti-virus operations by attaching a body temperature measuring device.

Hyundai Rotem will cooperate with Rainbow Robotics, a domestic robot platform specialist, for this project.

Hyundai Rotem will take charge of the system and develop military modifications such as hardware and software based on Rainbow Robotics' multi-legged walking robot platform.

Earlier, Hyundai Rotem signed a business agreement (MOU) with Rainbow Robotics in April to promote exchanges and cooperation projects in the field of defense robots, and decided to jointly develop multi-legged walking robots for military use.

With this project, Hyundai Rotem is expected to upgrade its core technology for multi-pharmaceutical platforms. Through this, it plans to establish a leading position in the field of domestic defense robotics, which is still in its early stages and to speed up the technological capacity to respond to the future defense market, which is being reorganized mainly by advanced technologies such as robotics and unmanned systems.

Hyundai Rotem has made continuous efforts to secure technology for robotics and unmanned systems.

In the field of robotics, the company has developed a variety of wearable robots such as VEX (Vest Exoskeleton) for up-turn work assistance and H-Fame for heavy load transportation assistance in collaboration with Hyundai Motor.

Based on these wearable robot products, the company has been developing wearable robots for KEPCO and electric power construction workers since last year, and also developing and commercializing agricultural wearable robots for the first time in Korea.

It has also been consistently performing in the field of unmanned systems. Hyundai Rotem successfully completed the pilot operation of its own multi-purpose unmanned vehicles in January this year and successfully delivered them. In 2020, Hyundai Rotem won the project to develop remote unmanned technology for the unmanned operation of tanks and armored vehicles.

“We will secure core technologies related to multi-legged platforms and strengthen the base of related businesses by winning orders for multi-legged walking robot development projects for counter-terrorism operations,” said Hyundai Rotem. “We will focus our capabilities on R&D activities to preemptively respond to future product demand and enhance technological competitiveness that can lead the market.”

Reported by Smart City Today