West Japan Railway has introduced a new humanoid robot designed to perform maintenance tasks, such as painting and gardening, on its railway network. The robot, which resembles a large 1980s sci-fi machine, will start operating this month.
Mounted on a truck capable of driving on rails, the robot features enormous arms, a small head reminiscent of Wall-E, and coke-bottle eyes. It is controlled remotely by an operator seated in a cockpit on the truck, who uses cameras to “see” through the robot’s eyes and operate its powerful limbs.
With a vertical reach of 12 meters (40 feet) and the ability to carry objects weighing up to 40 kg (88 lb), the robot can use various attachments for tasks like holding a paintbrush or wielding a chainsaw. Initially, it will focus on trimming tree branches along the rails and painting metal frames that hold cables above trains.
The technology aims to address worker shortages in Japan’s ageing population and reduce accidents, such as falls from high places or electric shocks. “In the future, we hope to use machines for all kinds of maintenance operations of our infrastructure,” said company president Kazuaki Hasegawa at a recent press conference, highlighting the robot’s potential to serve as a model for tackling labor shortages.