- Title: Spider-like inspection robots could soon be crawling through Japan's sewer pipes
- Date: 7th December 2022
- Summary: MUNAKATA, FUKUOKA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (DECEMBER 5, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TMSUK CEO, YUJI KAWAKUBO, SAYING: “The lifespan (of sewer pipes) is 50 years, and there are many sewer pipes that are nearing the end of that lifespan. There is an overwhelming shortage of manpower to inspect such pipes, and the number of sewer pipes that have not been inspected is in
- Embargoed: 21st December 2022 03:53
- Keywords: Japan Robot SPD1 Tmsuk innovaton inspection labour shortage robot spiders sewage spider-like
- Location: KYOTO, MUNAKATA, FUKUOKA PREFECTURE, JAPAN
- City: KYOTO, MUNAKATA, FUKUOKA PREFECTURE, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Science
- Reuters ID: LVA006468906122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spider-like robots could soon be inspecting Japan’s sewer pipes in the not-too-distant future.
Japanese robotics startup Tmsuk announced last month that it has developed the SPD1 robot, made to carry out inspections of Japan’s ageing sewage system, as the industry grapples with a labour shortage.
Tmsuk CEO Yuji Kawakubo said many sewer pipes in Japan are nearing the end of their 50-year lifespan, but a severe shortage of manpower has made it difficult for them to undergo inspection and maintenance.
Wheeled robots are currently being used to do the job, but such robots are not able to move across certain surfaces and areas.
"We heard that it is difficult to solve such problems with the current technology, so that's why our new robot was developed,†Kawakubo said.
The SPD1 robot measures approximately 25 centimetres in width and height, and weighs around 3.5 kilograms, which makes it at least 60 to 70% lighter than most conventional robots.
It has a 360-degree camera system and eight legs, which allows it to move around sediments and other obstacles. The robot can also easily be manoeuvred with a controller.
The SPD1 is currently still a prototype, but Tmsuk is planning to put it on the market after April 2024 as a set for around 6 million Japanese yen (43,812 USD), which will likely include three robots, a controller, and a monitor screen that will allow users to check recorded videos.
For now, the SPD1 can only carry out inspections of sewer pipes, but Kawakubo says he hopes the robot can be further developed to carry out simple sewer pipe repairs.
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