Japanese railway company to use a giant humanoid robot for fixing power lines
The West Japan Rail Company, also known as JR West, has unveiled its giant worker robot that can be tasked to carry out jobs that are considered risky for humans, New Atlas reported.
While we have diligently covered different types of robots being built for our future, including humanoid ones with extremely realistic expressions, a giant humanoid robot is something we haven’t seen before.
How does it work?
The robot features a torso that looks like a human’s and a pair of hands that can clean electricity lines with a specially developed multi-angle brush. It’s not only a cleaning robot; it can also perform maintenance jobs with its clamp-like hands, which are compatible with a variety of other instruments.
A pair of digital cameras perched on top of the torso serve as eyes for the human operator who controls the robot using a virtual reality (VR) headset. The operator uses motion-tracking to control the robot’s cameras, while a set of handles enable him manage the robot’s arms and hands. If an external force acts on the arms, the information is communicated to the pilot’s controls, who can then take the appropriate action.
Thanks to the hydraulic crane that hoists the torso, the robot can do some heavy-lifting.
Caution! Work in progress
The robot, while functioning, is still a prototype created by Nippon Singal and Human Machinery Company. In 2024, the first robot of its kind will be placed to fulltime employment. There will almost certainly be additional spin-offs from these massive robots, which will aid in the removal of humans from high-risk tasks involving electric wires and operating at great heights.
Even if it takes a little longer to do the task without endangering human life, it is well worth every yen you spend on it. We’re looking forward to seeing them in action soon.
