'Robocop' guards as turn keys in South Korean prisons

South Korea is said to be the world leader in robotics owing to its robotic models for different fields like teaching, home cleaners and guarding at borders.

Now bringing revolution in prison system, South Korea is about to introduce Robot guards as become the jail turnkeys to start patrolling South Korean prisons, research says.

Ministry of Knowledge Economy has organized the project to be undertaken by scientists for developing robots with sensors.

The robocops will be 1.5 meters (five feet) high and will run on four wheels. Their sensors will be able to detect abnormal behaviors like suicidal and violent behavior. According to Asian Forum for Corrections (AFC), a South Korea-based group of researchers in criminality and prison policies, they can remotely connect and conversate with officers to report them about the abnormalities.

Professor Lee Baik-Chul of Kyonggi University, leader of design process and head of the AFC said, developing the robocops was to assist the human guards focus on correction efforts. "As we're almost done with creating its key operating system, we are now working on refining its details to make it look friendlier to inmates," Lee quoted by Yonhap news agency.
Three of the robots are planned to be tested next march in the southeastern city of Pohang after completion of all development.