S Korea to make combat robots

South Korea said it was developing highly sophisticated combat robots that could compliment human soldiers on battlefields.

South Korea on Wednesday announced it was developing highly sophisticated combat robots that could compliment the roles of human soldiers on battlefields.

The ministries of defence and information and communication approved a joint project worth $32.4 million to develop the robot system by 2011.

Tentative designs released at a meeting of science ministers here showed three different types of robots that look like a sphinx without wings.

Equipped with six or eight wheels or legs, they would be capable of walking or running through rough terrain.

Armed with weapons and sensors, the robots could be put to combat missions or dangerous tasks such as detecting mines, the ministries said.

The ministries said they will also invest some $30 million to develop surveillance sensor networks by 2010.