Defense and communications technicians will team up to develop a mobile combat robot to fight alongside human soldiers on the battlefield, the government said last month. Officials heading the project said they have requested 33.4 billion won ($32.4 million) in funding between 2006 and 2011 to develop the horse-like robot for deployment. According to design blueprints released during a meeting of science-related ministers, the robot will have six or eight extendable legs with wheels allowing it to move like an insect over uneven terrain. The robot will be armed with various weapons and will operate both by remote control and with its own artificial intelligence system. The Defense Ministry will develop the robot's mobility systems and handle overall system integration with a budget of 17.2 billion won. The Ministry of Information and Communication will provide the remote control systems. Researchers at the Agency for Defense Development and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute will be tasked with developing most of the technology. In addition to the combat robot project, the two defense and communications ministries will work together to design small, easily deployable sensors that will be linked up in a electronic detection and control network. Officials said the network will help military authorities to patrol the country's borders. Following the meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Oh Myung, officials said the government's budget for research and development (R&D) projects will grow by 14-15 percent in 2006, up from the 12.5 percent earmarked at earlier this year. The government originally allocated 8.77 trillion won for R&D as part of efforts to promote next generation growth technologies.