SEOUL - TWO South Korean firms said on Wednesday they have teamed up to produce a robot that can operate as a housemaid and a guard dog.

As well as tackling vacuum cleaning chores, Iclebo will also be able to detect intruders and send alarm messages to its owner's mobile phone.

Robot vacuum cleaners, which sense the presence of obstacles, are already on sale around the world.

But KTF, which provided mobile phone technology, and Yujin Robot, which developed the hardware and software, say Iclebo is among the first that can also watch for burglars.

'If strangers break in, Iclebo will send an alarm signal to your mobile phone,' KTF's networking business manager Je Kyung-Il told AFP.

'With various devices such as a microphone, a speaker and a camera inside, it can clean the house or follow your order to 'shout' in case of a break-in.' he said.

Owners will be able to move Iclebo around remotely using their mobile phone keypad.

The firms plan to put the robot on the market within a year for about 500,000 won (S$792), Mr Je said. -- AFP