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.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @05:17PM (2 children)
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)
Subtle Japanese vending machine joke; very subtle
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday October 04 2018, @02:39AM
Sniff, sniff....yes, subtle. And fishy!
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---