In an environment as inhospitable as Japan’s wasted Fukushima nuclear plant, there’s no feasible way for humans to partake in salvage efforts. Which is why Japan has called on the services of 23 brave rescue robots to enter the heart of darkness.
The bots, recently introduced by Japan’s International Rescue System Institute, will be deployed to measure radiation levels and take video of the plant. They’re significantly smaller than the Monirobo robots, 590kg monsters that had been sent in previously to excavate and monitor the situation.
If any profession was going to be made obsolete by robots, I’m glad it’s the St. Bernard. Godspeed, tiny rescue robots! Make us proud to be your eventual fleshpuppet servants. [Sankei via CrunchGear]