By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter



The network-based robot called Maru will deliver beverages during the APEC summit in Pusan in November.

Korea looks to attract the world’s attention with its advanced technologies during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November in Pusan.
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Thursday said that the state-backed institute plans to show off its network-based robot, named ``MARU,’’ during the event.

KIST will introduce the robot to the leaders of Asia-Pacific countries and demonstrate its many functions, such as delivering beverages.

The network-enabled robot refers to a humanoid to which software is provided via the wireless Internet instead of embedded programs, such as in conventional models.

The robot itself is only capable of mobility and its other functions, like sensing and processing, come from the Web, thus enabling production of the sophisticated robots at an affordable price.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) took the wraps off five network robots in June and is jockeying to start feasibility tests of the models in hundreds of households next month.

Korea has channeled a lot of energy and resources into the new-concept robot with the aim of becoming one of three robotic powerhouses in the long run.

Another technology to debut at APEC is WiBro, Korea’s homegrown portable Internet.

The MIC and WiBro licensee KT, the country’s pre-dominant fixed-line telecom operator, plans to hand over hundreds of WiBro terminals to high-profile politicians and businessmen participating in APEC.

WiBro, formerly known as 2.3-gigahertz portable Internet, allows people on the road to remain connected to the Web at the speed of the current landline broadband.

KT aims to deploy the locally developed mobility-specific Internet services next April and Samsung Electronics, the world’s third-biggest cell phone maker, is now developing a variety of WiBro terminals.

During APEC, two kinds of WiBro terminals will be offered _ one that is the size of a personal digital assistant and a card that can be inserted into notebook PCs.

voc200@koreatimes.co.kr