Will we one day see a DMZ defended with robots?:

The age when unmanned robots will replace soldiers on the battlefield is not far off, said Kim Soo-hyun, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, in a seminar hosted by the Army on Wednesday.

Research is under way in the Army to develop a future combat system by 2025 where soldiers engage in combat alongside military robots. Kim said around the world combat robots that mimic a wide range of organisms including humans, dogs, scorpions, centipedes, lizards, fish and even grasshoppers are being developed.

China, France, Japan, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. are developing robots that resemble fish which can function as unmanned submarines. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology already tested the “Robotuna,” while research is under way for China’s “Dongle,” France’s “Jessiko,” Japan’s “Robotic Koi” and Switzerland’s “Boxybot.” Research is also under way for snake-like amphibious robots.

The United States leads the world in the development of military robots. “Packbot,” which has already been tested in Afghanistan and Iraq, is equipped with a shotgun capable of sustained, long-distance fire, while a mounted camera relays images in real time. The U.S. military’s favorite robots are the “Talon,” designed to defuse explosive devices, the “Panther,” which removes mines and the “Predator” drone used for unmanned aerial surveillance and bombing missions. Kim pointed out that robots are especially useful on dangerous missions such as scouting enemy territory or removing explosives.  [Chosun Ilbo]

That robot above may look cool but I seriously doubt it has any practical use right now other then looking cool.