News On Japan

Dog Robot Unveiled to Inspect Factory Equipment

TOKYO, Dec 26 (News On Japan) - A small dog-shaped robot capable of inspecting factory equipment in place of skilled workers was unveiled to address severe labor shortages.

The robot can operate continuously for four hours and detect subtle vibrations in factory pipes that are difficult for the human eye to discern.

Such vibrations in pipes can lead to serious accidents, such as gas leaks, making daily inspections crucial.

The robot is expected to help alleviate labor shortages and reduce the workload for workers.

Additionally, tests are being conducted on a system where the robot can be remotely operated, with AI analyzing real-time video footage.

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Boat travel from Kyoto to the Expo 2025 site in Yumeshima will become possible next month as a council promoting Yodogawa river transport announced the opening of a new route from Fushimi.

The Japanese government is set to raise the cap on high-cost medical expenses starting in August, a decision that has ignited intense debate among politicians, healthcare experts, and the general public.

The average price per Valentine's Day chocolate stands at 418 yen, marking a 5.8% increase from 2024, according to Teikoku Databank, with chocolates from international brands averaging 435 yen per piece, 35 yen higher than Japanese brands.

Osaka-Kansai Expo will offer visitors a glimpse into the "future of food," with companies unveiling innovative dining experiences set to be featured at the event.

Panasonic Holdings has announced plans to dissolve its core subsidiary, Panasonic Corporation, and split it into three separate companies as part of its business restructuring efforts.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

A fire broke out this afternoon in the central control room of the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture. According to Japan Atomic Power Company, the fire started shortly before 2 p.m. in the control panel of the plant’s central control room, which is responsible for overseeing reactor operations.

The H3 Rocket No. 5 was launched at around 5:30 p.m. on February 2nd from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The rocket carries the government’s 'Michibiki 6' satellite, known as the Japanese version of GPS.

The hydrogen fuel cell ship "Mahoroba," designed to connect central Osaka with the Expo venue in Yumeshima in approximately 60 minutes, was unveiled to the media ahead of its commercial launch during the Expo period.

Kunihiko Oishi, anchor for the program "Chanto!", discusses the topic of COVID-19 vaccines. Since October 2024, Japan has introduced routine vaccinations for COVID-19 to prevent severe cases. However, some healthcare professionals have chosen to stop administering the vaccines. One such doctor shared their reasons.

Kyoto University has made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying the occurrence of the so-called "urination mimicry" phenomenon in chimpanzees for the first time globally.

Satoshi Nakagawa, CEO of Tripod Design, has pioneered a groundbreaking technology called "micro energy harvesting," which collects minuscule amounts of electricity from a wide range of everyday materials, including soil, bread, water, and even fruits like tomatoes and apples.

A rocket carrying the lunar lander developed by Japanese space venture ispace was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States.

Japan Airlines has unveiled an aircraft featuring a sharkskin-like coating. By reducing air resistance with this special surface texture, the airline expects to cut fuel consumption by approximately 119 tons per aircraft annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 381 tons.