Rainbow Robotics, a specialist company in robot platforms, recently unveiled a prototype quadrupedal robot specifically designed for the defense industry. Created in collaboration with Hyundai Rotem, this innovative robot was showcased at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2023) held at Seoul’s Seongnam Airport.
The quadrupedal robot, named RBQ-10, is an enhanced version of Rainbow Robotics’ large quadrupedal robot. It features the capability to attach a small robot arm or weapon to its back. During the exhibition, one of the robots on display showcased a non-lethal weapon. The development and integration of this robot was a joint effort by Rainbow Robotics and Hyundai Rotem, who established a partnership in April last year to foster cooperation and exchange projects in the defense robotics sector.
Hyundai Rotem is also involved in a rapid research and development initiative with the Defense Rapid Acquisition Technology Research Institute under the Defense Development Agency. This project, initiated in August 2022, has a budget of approximately 4.6 billion won and is focused on creating a “multiple walking robot for counter-terrorism operations”. The objective is to deploy robots in high-risk areas during counter-terrorism operations, enabling early detection and warning of potential threats.
Notably, the new quadrupedal robot exhibited by Rainbow Robotics incorporates a reducer manufactured by the company itself. Reducers are essential components in industrial robots and contribute to around 30% of the total cost. By developing key parts in-house, Rainbow Robotics can maintain control over quality and costs, except for specific components like camera vision.
In addition, the newly designed small robot arm presented by Rainbow Robotics is lighter and boasts an extended reach compared to their existing RB collaborative robot series. This arm is being developed to perform tasks such as opening doors and lifting objects in field operations.
The RBQ-10 quad robot, capable of handling a payload of up to 10kg, can operate for up to 3 hours on a full charge. It showcases a 50% improvement in the ability to navigate stairs, allowing it to overcome gaps of up to 12cm. The climbing ability remains at 40%, while the continuous walking time and maximum speed slightly decreased compared to its predecessor, the RBQ-3.
Rainbow Robotics plans to continue advancing its defense robot technologies, including the development of a small robot arm suitable for quadrupedal robots and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). By leveraging their self-developed reducer technology and expertise, Rainbow Robotics aims to position itself as a key player in the defense robotics industry.
Rainbow Robotics, a robot platform specialist company, presented a prototype quadrupedal robot for the defense industry developed in collaboration with Hyundai Rotem at the ‘Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2023)’ held at Seoul’s Seongnam Airport until the 22nd.
The new robot was produced based on Rainbow Robotics’ large quadrupedal robot ‘RBQ-10’. It was designed to be used by attaching a small robot arm or weapon to the back of the robot. One robot encountered at the scene appeared to be equipped with a non-lethal weapon. The robot application was handled by Hyundai Rotem. The two companies signed a business agreement in April last year to promote exchange and cooperation projects in the field of defense robots.
Rainbow Robotics exhibited a quadrupedal robot for the defense industry developed in collaboration with Hyundai Rotem at ‘ADEX 2023’. It has a small robot arm developed by Rainbow Robotics. Each robot can be moved with only one controller. (Photo = Reporter Shin Young-bin)
Hyundai Rotem is conducting a rapid research and development project on a ‘multiple walking robot for counter-terrorism operations’ with the Defense Rapid Acquisition Technology Research Institute under the Defense Development Agency. The project, which has been underway since August last year, will have a budget of around 4.6 billion won until January 2025. It is being developed for the purpose of placing robots at the forefront in areas expected for them to be in danger during counter-terrorism operations, or to identify and warn of threatening elements in advance.
The new robot is particularly notable for having a reducer manufactured by Rainbow Robotics. Reducers are considered an expensive core part of industrial robots, accounting for around 30% of the cost. Rainbow Robotics directly develops or manufactures major parts domestically, with some exceptions, such as camera vision.
In addition, the newly applied small robot arm is designed to be lighter and have a longer reach than the existing Rainbow Robotics RB collaborative robot series. Rainbow Robotics explained that it is developing a suitably shaped arm so that it can open doors or lift objects in the field itself.
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Rainbow Robotics exhibited a quad robot for the defense industry developed in collaboration with Hyundai Rotem at ‘ADEX 2023’. This robot has non-lethal weapons that can fire tear gas and other weapons at the upper part. (Photo = Reporter Shin Young-bin)
A Rainbow Robotics official we met at the booth said, “We only test defense robots using a self-developed reducer,” and added, “We are also developing a small robot arm that can be mounted on a quadrupedal robot or an autonomous robot (AMR).” he explained.
Meanwhile, the new product ‘RBQ-10’, which supports a payload of 10kg, can operate for up to 3 hours when fully charged. Compared to the current ‘RBQ-3’, the ability to walk on stairs has increased by 50%, allowing it to overcome a gap of up to 12cm. The maximum climbing ability is 40%, which is the same as before, and the continuous walking time and maximum speed are slightly reduced.
Rainbow Robotics exhibited a quadrupedal robot for the defense industry developed in collaboration with Hyundai Rotem at ‘ADEX 2023’. Flexible. (Photo = Reporter Shin Young-bin)
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