South Korea is developing nature-inspired military surveillance robots that mimic birds, snakes, and sealife in a bid to conquer every theatre of war
- It uses a technology known as ‘biomimetics’ to mimics animals in robot design
- The South Korean government is using it in its weapon systems design
- Creatures including birds, snakes, sea life and even insects are being developed
- To help soldiers monitor and conquer every terrain and environment in battle
South Korea is developing robots that mimic wildlife adapted for all environments on Earth for military warfare.
The nature inspired technology, known as biomimetics, will form part of the country’s future weapons systems and help its soldiers in battles.
Robot designs inspired by birds, snakes and marine species aim to cover both surveillance and combat via sea, land and sky.
It is an attempt to catch up with neighbouring countries such as China and Russia who have made huge advances in the application of the technology, said a defence agency personnel.
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South Korea is developing a range of robots that mimic wildlife adapted for all environments on Earth for military warfare. The image shows an ‘intelligent’ robot
In a document that described the country’s key defence technologies, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) says it would actively apply the biomimetics to the military’s future weapons systems.
The plan is to develop several kinds of biobots which replicate humans and wildlife, mimicking birds, snakes, marine species and even insects for the hardest to reach areas.
DAPA agency spokesman Park Jeong-eun said: ‘Biometric robots will be a game changer in future warfare, and related technologies are expected to bring about great ripple effects throughout the defense industry.’
He added that their roles will range from search and rescue operations to reconnaissance and are expected to be deployed for military use as early as 2024.
Noting that South Korea lags years behind major advanced countries such as the United States, Japan, Russia and China in the military application of biomimetics, the agency also vowed close cooperation with the private sector to bring state-of-the-art technologies to its weapons systems.
Biomemetics looks to nature to solve problems, by ‘mimicking’ its adaptations that have evolved over millions of years.
The nature inspired technology, known as biomimetics, will form part of the country’s future weapons systems and help its soldiers in battle. Robot designs inspired by birds, snakes and marine life will help soldiers in combat. The image shows an ‘intelligent’ Korean robot’
This is particularly useful for attempts to penetrate natural environments that are challenging for humans.
This includes countries which are deploying military systems in a variety of settings, landscapes and terrains.
But it can also be used to monitor and solve modern-day problems faced by the natural world.
Last year, scientists at the Florida Atlantic University built robot jellyfish that could be swim through openings narrower than their bodies and are powered by hydraulic silicon tentacles.
Several of the bots have already been tested squeezing through holes cut into a plexiglass plate.
Biomemetics looks to nature to solve problems, by ‘mimicking’ its adaptations that have evolved over millions of years. Scientists at the Florida Atlantic University built robot jellyfish (pictured) that could be swim through openings narrower than their bodies
MIT has developed a robot the size of a small dog can perform back-flips with the agility of a champion gymnast. The four-legged automaton (pictured) dubbed the ‘mini cheetah’, is virtually indestructible, according to its creators
In future, these so-called ‘jellybots’ could be sent into delicate environments, such as coral reefs, without risking collision and damage, say scientists.
Similarly, MIT has developed a robot the size of a small dog can perform back-flips with the agility of a champion gymnast.
The four-legged automaton, dubbed the ‘mini cheetah’, is virtually indestructible, according to its creators.
The robot walks at double the speed of an average person and can easily run over bumpy, uneven terrain.
It has flexible metal limbs that provide stability and the robot can quickly pull itself up with a swing of its ‘elbows’ if it ever falls over.
WHAT IS BIOMIMETICS?
Biomimetics is the process of taking ideas from nature and using them in engineering design.
It uses mimicry of nature and wildlife’s adaptations to the different environments and conditions to create solutions to human problems.
It is an interdisciplinary field in which principles from engineering, chemistry and biology are applied to the synthesis of materials, synthetic systems or machines that have functions that mimic biological processes.
Biomaterials are any natural or synthetic material that interacts with any part of a biological system. Biomimetic designs could be used in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery.
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