Tech JR West to start using robot for track maintenance

An operator controls the machine using a goggle headset connected to cameras. When the user turns their head, the robot does the same. The weight of lifted objects can also be felt through control levers. Hasegawa Kazuaki, President of West Japan Railway, said, "Increasing the use of robots is important to meet the challenges of maintenance work and to ensure stable and sustainable railway operations." JR West says the robot could reduce maintenance workloads by about 30 per cent. It is also expected to improve safety when work is needed in hazardous environments, such as electric cables.

Click to expand...

The humanoid robot measures 1 meter tall, has a shoulder width of 1.5 meters and weighs about 600 kilograms. It is equipped with a pair of arms, each of which can hold an object weighing up to 40 kg combined. The robot is operated by a human, who uses a purpose-made joystick connected to it to move its arms. Officials said the robot was designed so that when it holds a heavy object, the corresponding sensation is felt through the joystick, allowing the operator to work intuitively. The robot can be hoisted to a height of 12 meters when put on the platform of a work vehicle, which is raised and lowered hydraulically. It can, for example, paint posts that hold overhead electric wires and cut down trees that hinder train services. Painting now requires only three workers, down from five previously, and cutting down trees requires only two, down from three, the officials said.

Click to expand...