Technological progress seems to have no ceiling and never ceases to amaze. One of the latest is new humanoid robot from the railway company West Japan Railway (West JR) in Japan. The technology giant promises to revolutionize the way maintenance tasks are carried out on the country’s rail infrastructure. It aims to improve efficiency and safety in an area that faces a notorious labor shortage.
Although it looks like a movie robot, this humanoid has no sinister intentions. A robot with huge arms and a tiny head can move on rails when mounted on a truck. Its creation and operation has been in the works since 2022 and, as expected, it entered this month this year.
The robot operator sits in a cab located in the truck and wears glasses augmented reality for viewing through cameras placed in the “eyes” of a humanoid. “It allows operators to move the robot as if they were doing the work themselves,” he said. Kazuaki Hasegawapresident of the West Japan Railway, according to Japanese media Japanese news.
This way, you can remotely control the robot’s powerful limbs and hands. ANDThis technology makes it possible to carry out precise and heavy work, such as transporting objects weighing up to 40 kilograms, paint metal structures or use a chainsaw. With a vertical reach of up to 12 meters, the humanoid is ideal for tasks in hard-to-reach places.
The main function of this robot in its initial phase will be to prune tree branches along the tracks and painting the metal frames that hold the cables above the trains, the company said. And as their operation improves, they hope to have more units.
The idea is that this huge robot can solve the shortage of workers by at least 30%. It will also reduce the risk of occupational accidents such as falls from heights or electric shocks, the company explained Guardian.
Japan’s aging population has led to a critical labor shortage, especially in sectors that require intensive physical work and technical skills for maintenance. This advanced robot promises to solve this problem. It integrates robotic technology to fill vacancies that the labor market cannot.
“We hope to use the machines for all types of maintenance operations on our infrastructure in the future.Hasegawa said at a recent press conference he reported on Guardian.
The robot was developed in collaboration with Jinki Ittai Coa company specializing in robotics technology, y Nippon Signal Coan electrical energy and information technology company.
According to media specialized in this issue Railway technologythis project is described as “multifunctional heavy railway machinery for the maintenance of railway machinery” and It is based on a prototype used by the same company West JR to demonstrate the concept.
This media also reported that the West Japan Railway stated that this project is a must due to: “Manpower shortages in infrastructure maintenance not just for railroads but in general.”
This humanoid’s success can serve as a model for other companies in Japan and around the world. It faces similar problems of labor shortages and occupational hazards.
West president JR Hasegawa expressed his optimism by also saying in a recent statement, “This should provide a case study in how to deal with labor shortages“.
