The Ministry of Information and Communication in Korea plans to market three types of network-based robots next October at prices they say won’t scare off customers (from $1,000 to $2,000).

“The robots can be that cheap because most of their software and programs are not incorporated into the machines,” Information-Communication Minister Chin Dae-je said.

“Like downloading a variety of software to personal computers via the broadband pipeline, most sensing and processing programs will be downloaded to URC robots,” added Oh Sang-rok who is in charge of the URC (ubiquitous robotic companion) scheme.

The wheeled robots will clean rooms, monitor the home, read books to kids and offer health-care and Internet connections. They can even order Chinese food and pizza by connecting to the local information network.

“On the back of the network robots, we are jockeying to become one of global top three robot producers by 2010. In 2020, every Korean household will have a robot,” Chin said.

Via Korea Times and Koreanet.
More robots in Korea: Robot teacher for Korean children, Robot to serve people in Korea’s post offices.