Unmanned Military Surveillance Vehicle to Debut by 2012

Korea Overseas Information Service, A high-tech unmanned surveillance vehicle will be deployed by the military by 2012, a state-run defense institute said on Wednesday (June 7). 
 
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD), affiliated with the Defense Ministry, unveiled a plan for the Experimental Autonomous Vehicle (XAV), which will be guided using the Global Positioning System (GPS). 
 
Starting in September, the agency will jointly develop the vehicle with the Ministry of Information and Communication on a budget of about $35 million, Choi Chang-gon, in charge of the XAV project, told reporters. 
 
The agency plans to demonstrate the XAV's basic functions in a trial run today in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Choi said. 
 
A total 64 robotic weapons systems, including 56 robots for ground surveillance missions, will be exhibited during the event. 
 
“In the demonstration session, people can see not only the robot system's high maneuverability, but the possibility of the technology being applied to sectors such as police patrolling, fire service and construction,” the researcher said. 
 
The agency is developing two versions of the XAV, one for battlefield reconnaissance missions and the other to be operated in light combat situations. 
 
The vehicle will be directed by a remote control system or move autonomously via its own artificial intelligence system, Choi said, adding the system would be able to identify and avoid objects during operations. 
 
Equipped with a 5.56-mm light machine gun, the sophisticated vehicle can fire on enemy targets after receiving commands from its controllers, he added. 
 
As part of the military's plan to build a more advanced and scientific armed forces, the government has redoubled efforts to develop up-to-date military systems suitable for future warfare. 
 
The military is also seeking to introduce a robot surveillance system for the defense of areas along the heavily-fortified border with North Korea by 2011. The ADD will gradually begin deploying the evolving technology in the field from next year, officials said.