Japanese researchers have unveiled two robots which they hope will one day be used to provide emergency support and relief in the aftermath of national disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Created in association with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization – which was set up following the devastating tsunami of 2011 – the mechanical duo were presented at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, where they gave a brief demonstration of their capabilities.
Known as HRP-2 Kai and JAXON, the robots performed a mock earthquake response, picking their way through rubble and extinguishing a small fire. While the team behind the project predict that it may take around another five years before they are ready for commercial use, their potential to assist in disaster relief efforts by operating in conditions that are hazardous for humans is already clear.
Situated in a region where several continental and oceanic plates meet, Japan is known for its frequent seismic activity. The archipelago is home to 118 volcanoes, and also experiences regular earthquakes, the strongest of which occurred in 2011. Alongside generating the tsunami that caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster, large areas of the country were destroyed and almost 200,000 lives were claimed.
In light of this constant threat, the need for disaster-response improvements is plain to see, and much hope is now being vested in the field of robotics – both in Japan and elsewhere. For instance, Dubai’s civil defense force recently announced plans to begin using robot police officers by 2017.
HRP-2 Kai and JAXON – the latter of which has been named after Michael Jackson – showed off their ability to walk along narrow planks, crouch beneath low ceilings and carefully step over debris, using information provided by a number of sensors. However, a raft of improvements are still needed before they can be relied upon in real-world situations – as evidenced by a costly misstep by JAXON during the performance, which resulted in the robot falling to the floor before being rather embarrassingly stretchered away.
