Intelligent network based robots on the market in 2005

"A URC robot just provides a platform with the capability of action and the sensing and processing abilities will mostly come through high-speed networks. It can be called software-on-demand without predefined programs," Oh explained.

Intelligent Robots in the home

The three URC home robots in development include a 1 meter tall, high-end robot, priced at between 2 and 3 million won, which will provide health-care programs for owners and mobile Internet connection services. A middle range robot will cost around 1 million won and will be approximately 70 to 80 cm in height and perform household tasks like cleaning rooms as well as ordering pizzas or Chinese food via built in local information. The low-end robot will be 50cm tall and focus on entertainment features like reading books while kids are sleeping, with a price tag of around 500,000 won.

The future of intelligent robots

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication reports that the global hardware market for networked robots will reach around 3.5 trillion yen by 2013, which sees Korea positioned to take full advantage of this growth. Furthermore, online robot-associated application equipment and services are expected to top 4.3 trillion yen and 12 trillion yen by the same year.

Korea's MIC is developing it's ambitious network-based robotics program over the next ten years. The Korean Times reports the MIC team is "drawing up three-stage plans tailored to eventually deploying genuinely sophisticated robots that evolve through interaction with humans by 2015.

"The first target is to develop semi-autonomous robots by 2007, which can respond to people's requests by recognizing owners' voices with mapping ability. The next stage is launching autonomous robots, which perceives the needs of people by 2011. For example, the smart robot will ask its owner to take medication if he or she looks sick.

"As the final goal, with a deadline of 2015, the robot will have self-awareness and mutually interact with human beings on the back of the ubiquitous network, which Korea aims to complete by 2010."

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