Rise of the machines: Hitachi joins robot race to dismantle Fukushima ruins

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Published time: December 09, 2012 10:37
Edited time: December 09, 2012 14:37

Screenshot from YouTube user Kazumichi Moriyama

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Fukushima nuclear disaster

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Japan, Natural disasters, Nuclear, SciTech

Japanese company Hitachi has unveiled a new remote-controlled robot designed for lifting duties in radioactive areas of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. Earlier, Toshiba also demonstrated a radiation-resistant robot for Fukushima.

Hitachi’s 'Astaco-Sora' is mounted on tracks and has a base of 150 by 98 centimeters, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. The robot is controlled wirelessly and can operate for up to 15 hours, Hitachi told journalists during a Friday demonstration.

Its two-pincer manipulator can lift loads up to 300 kilograms. The robotic arms can also be equipped with tools like an electric saw.

Hitachi said it may deploy the lifter at the plant next year.

Screenshot from YouTube user Kazumichi Moriyama

Earlier, major Japanese robot manufacturer Toshiba created a radiation-shielded machine for use inside Fukushima's radioactive zones. In a somewhat jerky demo last month, Toshiba showcased the four-legged stair-walking robot to the media. Unlike Hitachi’s creation, Toshiba’s robot is not meant for heavy lifting.

Screenshot from YouTube user Kazumichi Moriyama

The Fukushima nuclear plant was destroyed in 2011 by a powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the worst-ever disaster of its kind in Japan.

The disaster prompted a number of nations worldwide to shelve the use of nuclear energy, including European powerhouse Germany and Japan itself.

Image from a Hitachi presentation

Comments (6)

Donr (unregistered) 20.12.2012 20:28

Almost 2 years since the disaster and RT fan boys are still insisting that everyone in Japan and on the US west coast is dying. Odd, I was in Tokyo last may, and I feel perfectly healthy. I live on US west coast, but still doing just fine. I thought you guys said this would be the end of the world? What happened? Maybe what happened is your judgement isn't as great as you think it is. Now that you accept how wrong you were about Fukushima, go ahead and apply that same concept to everything else you believe.

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Marc Authier (unregistered) 10.12.2012 06:55

It does not adress the MAJOR and REAL problem here. There has been in Fukushima a perfect China syndrome. The heart of three reactors have melted down and are now contaminating the water table. Its japanese BS. Under intense radioactivity like these the life span of a robot, however built last only a very short period. And by the way the half life of all the nuclear excrement at Fukushima is 250,000 years !!!!!!!!!! Half life. 50 times longer than the history of human civilization. The same can be said for Tchenobyl. The japanese government and corporations are totally corrupt and their behaviour will kill millions of Japanese the coming years. Tchernobyl killed maybe one million people. This accident which is 10 times bigger will certainly kill maybe 10 million people easily.

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Rad Alert (unregistered) 10.12.2012 04:20

If you travel to Japan make sure you are not allergic to radiation, because it will kill you faster than the smog, and you won't even notice you're dying. The radiation is now a problem on the US west coast too, where increasingly there are birth defects being noticed among insects, fish, and even humans.

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