South Korean Hyundai Rotem unveiled its leg-wheel military robot during the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2021.
Dubbed the DOSS (daring operations in service and search), the ultimate mobility vehicle has wheels for flat terrain and nimble legs that allow the robot to walk on uneven terrain such as boulders and narrow mountain trails.
Using its sophisticated leg-and-wheel locomotion, the robot can perform a variety of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and transportation of goods and injured soldiers.
According to Hyundai, DOSS is “the world’s first transformable future ground platform that combines intelligent robot technology and wheels to freely move on rough terrain where off-road vehicles cannot go.”
Other High-Tech Military Robots
In February, Hyundai unveiled its TIGER X-1 mobility vehicle equipped with a loading box capable of carrying people and products weighing over 200 kilograms (440 pounds).
The high-tech vehicle also has a remote-controlled weapon station and is capable of connecting to drones. It can also recharge its battery pack while delivering goods or retrieving equipment.
“We’ve been focusing more on the technology capabilities of TIGER X-1, and in future versions we’re going to be working to increase the size and payload capacity,” Hyundai official, Dr. John Suh, said in February. “At the same time, we had to garner some insights from our future customers about what they need in terms of size and capability.”
Meanwhile, American engineering firm Boston Dynamics has developed a four-legged robot called “Spot” capable of surveilling the surroundings and mapping its environment.
With a 3D vision system, the autonomous robot can also sense and avoid obstacles, climb stairs, and open doors. It can handle up to 14 kilograms (30 pounds) of payloads.
