04:14Spidey-Sense of Smell: Japanese eight-legged service robot takes to the sewers
Tmsuk Corporation unveiled its spider-like robot for use in underground sewerage systems, in Kyoto on Thursday.
Footage shows 'SPD1' machine walking on eight legs through a piece of piping, operated by a game controller. It measures 21 x 25 x 25 cm, weighs 3.5 kg and can be equipped with a 360-degree camera.
"There are three robots, and each robot has a different role," explained Masaki Shimizu, research director of the Business Promotion Division." The first one surveys the sewer pipes, the second one checks the pipes attached to the house, and the third one covers and repairs the damaged parts."
According to the company’s Managing Director Junichi Setoguchi, the robot can do the work that would either be too difficult or too dangerous for humans.
“We would like to call them 'workloids,' and to make them available to the world and popularise them," he stated.
Reports claim the sewerage construction industry has a major manpower shortage. The total system of pipes and manholes in the country stretches to nearly 500,000 km, while the company says that 40 percent will be beyond the standard service life within two decades.
Note: The name of the company was amended to Tmsuk
04:14Tmsuk Corporation unveiled its spider-like robot for use in underground sewerage systems, in Kyoto on Thursday.
Footage shows 'SPD1' machine walking on eight legs through a piece of piping, operated by a game controller. It measures 21 x 25 x 25 cm, weighs 3.5 kg and can be equipped with a 360-degree camera.
"There are three robots, and each robot has a different role," explained Masaki Shimizu, research director of the Business Promotion Division." The first one surveys the sewer pipes, the second one checks the pipes attached to the house, and the third one covers and repairs the damaged parts."
According to the company’s Managing Director Junichi Setoguchi, the robot can do the work that would either be too difficult or too dangerous for humans.
“We would like to call them 'workloids,' and to make them available to the world and popularise them," he stated.
Reports claim the sewerage construction industry has a major manpower shortage. The total system of pipes and manholes in the country stretches to nearly 500,000 km, while the company says that 40 percent will be beyond the standard service life within two decades.
Note: The name of the company was amended to Tmsuk