NADI, TM Introduce AI-Powered Robotic Dogs At LIMA'25

By Nazira Hasanah Nasaruddin

LANGKAWI, May 24 (Bernama) -- The sight of two AI-powered robotic dogs has become one of the main attractions for visitors at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA'25), held at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) since yesterday.

One of them was introduced by National Aerospace Defense Industries Sdn Bhd (NADI), an AI-powered robotic dog designed as a Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle (Q-UGV) to support security, defence, and industrial applications.

 NADI Group senior engineer  Wayne Lim said the dog, named Asuk, was developed in collaboration with Ghost Robotics of the United States. The Q-UGV serves as a foundational platform in NADI’s long-term strategy to build an ecosystem of intelligent, interoperable unmanned systems capable of operating across land, sea and air domains.

He said the dog was named Asuk, which in Sarawak means dog,  and the name also serves as an abbreviation for “Anjing Siber Unit Khas”.

“Weighing 50 kilogrammes, the robotic dog offers up to 24 hours of autonomous operation and is capable of performing reconnaissance in hazardous environments such as disaster zones, combat areas, and high-risk industrial sites. Asuk is also designed to withstand moderate weather conditions, featuring an IP67 rating for splash and dust resistance.

“The Q-UGV is designed to evolve with advancements in AI, autonomy and sensor technology. We aim to lead in developing unmanned systems that operate safely, efficiently and effectively across diverse mission environments,” he told Bernama here today.

According to Lim, the platform’s modular payloads can be customised to suit mission needs, and several Malaysian defence and emergency response agencies, including the Fire and Rescue Department and the Royal Malaysia Police, are currently evaluating the system through technical demonstrations and field trials.

He said the dog, equipped with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), infrared or thermal sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), cameras and chemical sensors, can carry out surveillance, threat detection and payload delivery with minimal human intervention.

“To ensure public safety and privacy, the Q-UGV is governed by programmed speed limits and collision-avoidance features, while operating frequencies are regulated in compliance with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) standards to prevent signal interference,” he said.

Meanwhile,  the other dog is by Telekom Malaysia (TM), designed to perform early reconnaissance tasks in high-risk and difficult-to-access areas, including for security missions and search and rescue (SAR) operations.

TM One Government Business vice-president Mohamed Faisal Naina Mohamed said the 20 kg robot dog was developed over the past three years through collaboration with an international robotics company, as one of the telecommunications company's innovations in supporting the national defence and security sectors.

“The robot is equipped with a 360-degree camera, LiDAR sensor, digital communication system and the ability to identify obstacles and the environment in real time. It also has built-in safety features to avoid collisions with humans or other objects.

“It has water and dust resistance at IP64 level, in addition to being able to carry additional loads or equipment, including for firefighting and chemical spraying purposes,” he said.

According to Mohamed Faisal, the technology has been widely used in several countries, such as China and European countries, especially in fire and rescue operations.

He said TM plans to improve the robot’s capabilities, including in terms of mobility, high temperature resistance and the ability to adapt to various surfaces for use in the oil and gas industry and other extreme situations. 

LIMA '25, which is in its 17th edition, was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 20 and will draw to a close today.

-- BERNAMA