The West Japan Rail Company has unveiled a giant worker robot that can perform repairs and other tasks deemed too dangerous for humans. according to publication new atlas, its goals are “to improve productivity and safety”, and to enable workers to move various forms of heavy equipment. In repairs or improvements, many railroad workers run the risk of both electric shock and falls. The robot is controlled by a human using Virtual Reality.
A video demonstrating the robot’s functionality has been posted on the railway’s official Twitter handle.
【News report】
I詳しくはこちらをご覧ください。https://t.co/R8X32nmuJUpic.twitter.com/FBVjIe1xCC
— JR西日本ニュース【公式】 (@news_jrwest) Apr 15, 2022
In the video, the robot can be seen with a large torso driving a special car on the rails. Once it reaches a location that needs repair, it puts down its stabilizing legs. What is incredibly unique about this robot is that the human who controls it does so through Virtual Reality glasses. While holding a pair of handles, the operator can move the robot’s arms and hands to perform repairs remotely.
The video shows how the robot lifts and positions several large components, along with cleaning the structures above them. The handler controlling the robot can also be seen using the mechanical clamps attached to the robot, showing a fair amount of agility.
Even though the robot looks incredibly impressive, it is still in the prototype stage and many kinks need to be ironed out. It was developed by Nippon Singal Company in collaboration with Human Machinery Company. The robot is expected to be ready in the year 2024.