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The robot works as an extension of the worker, being able to carry out precise movements and with great force to lift structures.
Every day new technological improvements are implemented that completely change the ways in which we work. Integrating technology into our work environment is nothing new, and in most cases it has managed to automate processes and make life easier for millions of workers. A good example is this curious robot designed by a Japanese company to carry out railway repairs. Surely it sounds familiar to you, since it is the spitting image of Wall-E except for one difference: it seems that he has become serious with the gym.
The robot bears a resemblance to the Disney character Wall-e // JR West
This robot, designed by the Japanese company JR West, is committed to a humanoid shape to facilitate repair processes on railway tracks. The robot structure is placed at the end of a lifting arm, so that the operator can handle it comfortably from the cabin. It’s thought this way to make it an extension of the workergiving you the freedom of movement that human limbs provide, only with much more power and amazing precision.
A robot that allows to operate with precision and without danger of electric shocks
The worker operates from the base, having control over the lifting arm and limbs of the robot. With a joystick system you can move your arms naturallyand grab objects to place them precisely where they belong.
The operator has a visual control of what is happening at all times thanks to the real-time monitoring of virtual reality-like glasses. With all this equipment, the worker can carry out repairs on the railway without using ladders and risking his safety from electric shock.
The operator has full control over the robot’s movements // JR West
In fact, that is the main objective for which JR West wants to continue using this robot. On urban train tracks, a large number of accidents occur when carrying out repairs, mostly caused by electrical discharges. With this robot, the operator is in a safe environment and can handle cables and sockets without any risk of danger.
At the moment the system is just a prototype, but the Japanese company has tested it enough to draw conclusions. JR West believes that this technology could prevent thousands of work-related accidents, which in turn would lead to a huge increase in productivity. An operation that would require the coordination of two or more workers can be done comfortably by one person operating the robot.
Repairs to Japan’s urban train tracks prove their efficiency // JR West
The railway environment has been where this prototype has taken its first steps, but it is impossible not to see the potential it has in sectors such as construction, for example. Assuming the expenses to build the system is not within the reach of many, but it is certainly another example of how robotics can help us carry out our work. Whether these types of robots are going to leave us unemployed or not… that’s another story.
Related topics: Technology
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