Japan's new nuclear-proof robot gets stage fright
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Toshiba's four-legged robot walks on a catwalk during a demonstration at Toshiba's technical center in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. Toshiba developed a tetrapod robot, enabling it to carry out investigative and recovery work in the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The robot weighs 65kg and can move over uneven surfaces. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Toshiba's nuclear inspection robot climbs stairs during a demonstration at a Toshiba factory in Yokohama, west of Tokyo on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012. The four-legged robot is designed to help at the meltdown-crippled Japanese nuclear plant, climbing over debris and venturing into radiated areas off-limits to human workers. -- PHOTO: AP
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Toshiba's new four-legged robot, which the company says is capable of carrying out investigative and recovery work at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, is demonstrated in front of reporters wearing helmets at Toshiba's Yokohama complex in Yokohama, south of Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Toshiba's four-legged robot climbs steps during a demonstration at Toshiba's technical center in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Photographers take photos of Toshiba's new four-legged robot, which the company says is capable of carrying out investigative and recovery work at tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, during a demonstration at the company's Yokohama complex in Yokohama, south of Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Toshiba's four-legged robot climbs steps during a demonstration at Toshiba's technical center in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Toshiba's four-legged robot walks on a catwalk during a demonstration at Toshiba's technical center in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. Toshiba developed a tetrapod robot, enabling it to carry out investigative and recovery work in the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The robot weighs 65kg and can move over uneven surfaces. -- PHOTO: AFP
Toshiba's nuclear inspection robot climbs stairs during a demonstration at a Toshiba factory in Yokohama, west of Tokyo on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012. The four-legged robot is designed to help at the meltdown-crippled Japanese nuclear plant, climbing over debris and venturing into radiated areas off-limits to human workers. -- PHOTO: AP
Toshiba's new four-legged robot, which the company says is capable of carrying out investigative and recovery work at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, is demonstrated in front of reporters wearing helmets at Toshiba's Yokohama complex in Yokohama, south of Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Toshiba's four-legged robot climbs steps during a demonstration at Toshiba's technical center in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Photographers take photos of Toshiba's new four-legged robot, which the company says is capable of carrying out investigative and recovery work at tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, during a demonstration at the company's Yokohama complex in Yokohama, south of Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Toshiba's four-legged robot climbs steps during a demonstration at Toshiba's technical center in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
YOKOHAMA (REUTERS) - A Japanese robot designed to withstand high levels of radiation and extreme heat at damaged nuclear plants such as Fukushima froze on Wednesday on its first public demonstration.
Despite being home to the largest number of industrial robots in the world, Japan did not have a device capable of entering the damaged Fukushima nuclear facility after last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Instead, Japan brought in robots from the United States to survey the extent of the damage inside the reactor buildings.
Toshiba unveiled Japan's own nuclear-proof robot on Wednesday, a four-legged device able to carry up to 20kg of equipment and capable of lifting itself up if it falls over on uneven surfaces and amid debris.
