Patrol Robots and Location Trackers... Advanced Security Equipment from Movies Becomes Reality

Ministry of Science and ICT and National Police Agency Launch 'Police Lab 2.0' Program for Developing Advanced Technology-Based Security Equipment

Patrol robot. Stock photo. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] #One day in 2026. Police Officer A, assigned to a security center in Seoul, is greatly benefiting from a quadruped patrol robot deployed in areas prone to accidents and crimes. Introduced last year, this robot constantly monitors areas that closed-circuit TVs cannot cover, keeping watch over accidents and crimes. Human police officers, including Officer A, monitor the robot’s patrols within the security center and respond promptly when incidents occur. Additionally, they can adjust patrol routes to determine where robots are needed and where human presence is required, making security work much more efficient.

Though still a concept, this may soon become reality. Government ministries have begun developing advanced equipment, including robots with 'RoboCop'-like capabilities, to introduce cutting-edge science and technology into public safety.

On the 8th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that, together with the National Police Agency, it will actively promote the 'Customized Research and Development Project for Security Field (Police Lab 2.0 Project)' to solve issues in security scenes demanded by citizens and police based on scientific technology. To this end, the two agencies held a kickoff meeting at the National Police Agency’s Culture Yard with researchers from 10 R&D projects in attendance. This project involves citizens and police users throughout the entire process?from project planning to demonstration and field application?supporting a joint effort to practically resolve security field problems.

Specifically, to enable smart security activities, they will develop an unmanned patrol robot system to support patrol duties such as protecting socially vulnerable groups, and a 'launchable (or attachable) location tracking device-based safe pursuit system' for chasing fleeing vehicles. To modernize protective gear for on-site police officers, shields and protective clothing with greatly enhanced safety and convenience will be developed. From a scientific crime investigation perspective, research will be conducted on systems that quickly analyze overlapping fingerprints collected at crime scenes, AI-based systems that rapidly detect video forgery, and integrated digital forensic systems capable of bypassing any security measures to counter increasingly sophisticated 'anti-forensic' technologies. Additionally, ongoing projects include safety demonstrations of alternative ammunition and stun guns, as well as R&D on security drones.

To support this, the two agencies plan to invest a total of 44.5 billion KRW from this year through 2025, matched on a 1:1 basis. Previously, between 2018 and 2021, they invested 11.56 billion KRW to carry out the 'Police Lab 1.0 Project,' which developed foldable shields, the Visible 112 system, mobile fingerprint identification, drone systems, intelligent video surveillance, and chatbots for responding to sex crimes.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "To respond to the rapidly changing security environment brought by the 4th Industrial Revolution, solving security field problems through scientific technology is crucial," adding, "We will wholeheartedly support the jointly promoted Police Lab 2.0 Project so that citizens can experience advanced security through research outcomes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.