[The Chosun Ilbo, December 11 2007] Korean Researcher Developing Unmanned Autos

The ROVEH, RObotic VEHicle, is a car that moves without a driver. It is a creation of Han Min-hong, a researcher at a state-funded electronics institute.

A central computer identifies the car's surroundings using a global positioning system and a camera to decide on speed and direction.

The former Korea University professor said, "ROVEH's driving is better than that of an average beginner's. Information on traffic lanes is transmitted to a computer to control the vehicle. It also measures the distance between itself and other objects through lasers."

It has taken 18 years for the researcher to develop the technology for unmanned cars, and he readily admits that at least another decade will pass before such cars reach the market.