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posted by chromas on Wednesday October 03 2018, @02:35PM   Printer-friendly
from the they-terk-our-jerbs! dept.

Humanoid construction robot installs drywall by itself

If Japan's Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Institute has its way, construction workers might be a thing of the past. Researchers have built [original] HRP-5P, a humanoid bot that can handle a variety of construction tasks when there's either a staffing shortage or serious hazards. The prototype uses a mix of environment detection, object recognition and careful movement planning to install drywall by itself -- it can hoist up boards and fasten them with a screwdriver.

The design doesn't have as much freedom of movement as a human being, but makes up for that with numerous joints that flex to degrees you wouldn't see in real people. It won't always look the most natural when doing its job, but it'll be effective. It can also correct for slips, and it's not deterred when it has a limited field of view.

Also at The Verge and TechCrunch.


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  • (Score: 2) by richtopia on Wednesday October 03 2018, @03:44PM (7 children)

    by richtopia (3160) on Wednesday October 03 2018, @03:44PM (#743442) Homepage Journal

    Putting up sheetrock seems like a bad choice for an immigration reducing robot. If Japan's population is shrinking why build more houses?

    Starting Score:    1  point
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @03:49PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @03:49PM (#743444)

    If Japan's population is shrinking why build more houses?

    They can no longer shrink the houses to match. [realestate.co.jp]

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @03:50PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @03:50PM (#743445)

    because the old ones fall down (earthquakes).
    apparently in japan the price of a house only goes down with age.

  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @05:17PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @05:17PM (#743500)

    In Japan, it is normal to tear down and replace houses that would be perfectly acceptable in America or Europe. Moving into a previously used home would be like buying used underwear or even a used sex toy. It's disgusting.

    I'm not sure how that makes hotels acceptable, but I guess there is no choice with that.

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by VLM on Wednesday October 03 2018, @07:18PM (1 child)

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday October 03 2018, @07:18PM (#743596)

      like buying used underwear

      Subtle Japanese vending machine joke; very subtle

      • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday October 04 2018, @02:39AM

        by Gaaark (41) on Thursday October 04 2018, @02:39AM (#743808) Journal

        Sniff, sniff....yes, subtle. And fishy!
        :)

        --
        --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
  • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday October 03 2018, @10:54PM

    by MostCynical (2589) on Wednesday October 03 2018, @10:54PM (#743724) Journal

    Japan's population is getting older, with fewer builders.
    https://www.statista.com/statistics/604424/median-age-of-the-population-in-japan/ [statista.com]

    Building, rebuilding and remodelling require builders. Also, this is Japan - robots are cool.

    And, they tend to rebuild alot:
    https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/nov/16/japan-reusable-housing-revolution [theguardian.com]

    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday October 04 2018, @02:38AM

    by Gaaark (41) on Thursday October 04 2018, @02:38AM (#743806) Journal

    One word: Gojira!

    --
    --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---