Japanese rail firm rolls out VR-piloted Gundam robotic employee

The West Japan Rail Firm has launched video of its new humanoid heavy tools robotic. Mounted on the tip of a crane, this gundam-style robotic torso mimics the arm and head motions of a human pilot, who sees by the robotic’s eyes by way of VR goggles.

The important thing aims right here, in accordance with the corporate, are “to enhance productiveness and security,” enabling employees to carry and naturally manipulate heavy tools across the rail system with out exposing them to the danger of electrical shocks or falling.

The robotic’s giant torso is mounted to a hydraulic crane arm, which rides across the rail system on a specifically braced rail automobile, placing down stabilizing legs when it is time to get to work.

A human pilot places on a set of VR goggles, that are motion-tracked to regulate the actions of a Wall-E-style head with stereo imaginative and prescient. Gripping a pair of handles, the pilot is ready to transfer the robotic’s arms and arms – and if an exterior power like a weight strikes the robotic’s arms, this movement is mirrored again to the pilot’s controls.

A video launched on Twitter reveals the robotic lifting and positioning some fairly sizeable elements, in addition to cleansing overhead rail buildings with a particular multi-angle brush. It grips all these instruments in what appear to be comparatively easy clamp-like “arms,” exhibiting an affordable diploma of dexterity, albeit working at a reasonably sluggish velocity.

JR West

Sometimes, any try and make a robotic look humanoid would make us assume it in all probability would not work in addition to it may if it did not look humanoid. However on this case, it is smart: the pilot can shortly acquire a kinetic really feel for working the robotic, since its arms and head are in acquainted locations relative to at least one one other.

JR West is growing this machine in partnership with Human Equipment co. and Nippon Sign co. We will not divine what’s subsequent for this broad-shouldered beast from the press launch, however you possibly can benefit from the video beneath.

Supply: JR West