A giant humanoid robot, which looks like it came out of a 1980s science fiction movie, will be used to maintain railway lines in Japan.
Starting this month, the Japanese company West Japan Railway will add this huge machine, 12 meters tall, to its workforce. The robot has huge arms, a disproportionately small head reminiscent of Disney's Wall-E robot, and will be used for work on the company's network.
The robot operator sits in a cockpit in the truck that steers it, "sees" through the robot's eyes, via the built-in camera, and operates its powerful limbs and arms remotely.
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The humanoid robot can use various attachments on its arms, which allow it to carry objects up to 40 kilograms, hold a brush to paint, or use a chainsaw.
For now, the robot's primary task is trimming tree branches along the railway tracks and painting metal frames that hold up the cables above the trains.
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Japan doesn't have a lot of workers for this type of work , so using technology (like this robot) will help fill the gaps. In addition, the robot will take on railway maintenance tasks that have previously posed a risk to workers ' physical health (e.g. falls from heights, electrocution, etc.). This means that work accidents will also be reduced .
Using a giant humanoid robot for railway maintenance can significantly increase the efficiency of operations, as the robot can work continuously without the need for breaks or rest.
Additionally, precision and consistency in maintenance work can reduce the chances of errors, ensuring that railway lines remain in top condition and reducing disruptions to train operations.
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"In the future, we hope to use machines for all kinds of maintenance work on our infrastructure," and this should provide a case study for how to address the labor shortage, said West Japan Railway president Kazuaki Hasegawa.
Source: www.theguardian.com
