Samsung once created an extremely 'cool' automatic shooting robot

The machine has the ability to detect targets, warn with loudspeakers, shoot rubber bullets and fire live bullets.

Samsung is a brand known for its electronic products and home appliances, from smart refrigerators to Galaxy smartphones. But did you know that this Korean corporation once created a self-operated sentry robot, made specifically for the Korean military? Its name is SGR-A1, a work of Samsung subsidiary called Samsung Techwin.

Self-operated sentry robot SGR-A1.

Although Samsung Techwin no longer exists, as this company was acquired by Hanwa Group in 2014 and transformed into the company now known as Hanwa Techwin. However, before this transition took place, the Samsung subsidiary was responsible for creating a shooting robot to serve as a guard on South Korea's border with North Korea.

Samsung Techwin developed the robot in conjunction with Korea University, and according to Stripes, some units were deployed as early as 2010 to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) dividing the Korean peninsula. The area was created in late 1953 and runs for about 240km along the 38th parallel, an area that also serves as the demarcation line between the two countries.

Samsung Techwin's self-propelled robot

The SGR-A1 was deployed on the Korean side of the border as a self-propelled all-weather sentry unit. Each robot reportedly costs around $200,000, as of 2006, and has the ultimate purpose of replacing soldiers in guard duty. Global Security reports that Samsung Techwin has claimed its system is designed to replace humans - who can be weakened by inclement weather or fatigue - each with the ability to use some sort of Various enemy countermeasures.

Basically, the Samsung Techwin SGR-A1 includes an onboard speaker and microphone for South Korean soldiers to reach to deactivate the weapon trigger system. As for the enemy, the system will initially emit audible warnings, then non-lethal rubber bullets, followed by real metal bullets with the robot's machine gun. Some sources report that the SGR-A1 can be programmed to warn the operator before using lethal projectiles, but others say the robot can be operated without a human. make decision.

Product introduction video SGR-A1

The SGR-A1s are armed with the 5.56 mm Daewoo Precision Industries K3 machine gun, and as We Are The Mighty reports, they can be upgraded to the Milkor MGL 40 mm light grenade launcher as an option. In terms of vision system, the robot is equipped with a series of sensors and cameras including a laser rangefinder and an infrared thermal camera.

Pattern recognition software allows the SGR-A1 to distinguish between humans, animals and other objects. In daylight, the system is capable of identifying and tracking multiple targets at a distance of up to kilometers, while at night the range is reduced to about half.

Due to their special and somewhat sensitive nature, the exact number of these robotic guards that have been deployed in the past or continue to be in use today has not been made public. But as far as product videos go, the SGR-A1 is clearly no joke.