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West Japan Railways is using a giant humanoid robot to maintain train lines and perform other critical tasks. The 40-feet-tall humanoid robot mounted on a truck has enormous arms, and coke-bottle eyes.

The giant machine is operated by a person who sits in a cockpit on the truck. Its powerful limbs and hands can be operated easily seeing via robots eyes that are equipped with cameras.

Jinki Ittai Co, a robotics technology developer, and Nippon Signal Co, an IT and electricals in infrastructure firm, jointly developed the machine.

The machine would allow people of all genders and ages to work on railway maintenance, although it is unclear what would stop women working on overhead lines.The mechanization will contribute greatly to the goal of eliminating workplace accidents caused by electric shock or falls, and will also lead to improved safety, reported Railway Technology.

According to the company, the technology will help fill worker shortages in aging Japan as well as reduce accidents such as workers falling from high places or suffering electric shocks.

In the future, we hope to use machines for all kinds of maintenance operations of our infrastructure, and this should provide a case study for how to deal with the labour shortage, said company president Kazuaki Hasegawa, according to The Guardian.

Jinki claims that the robot can lift and maneuver heavy loads like steel pipes, plates or wires, and do its job just like any human because as its controlled by one.

By synchronizing their movements with the robot, the human operator can use the machinery to perform complex tasks that require both power and finesse.

According to Jinki, the robot basically replicates the movements of an actual human inside the cockpit of the heavy machinery. They have special goggles connected to the eyes of the robot, and they can precisely control the movement of its arms using a technology developed by the company.

The giant robot is expected to lead to a significant advancement in maintenance technology and safety. This solution will help address current challenges in the industry and provide more reliable and efficient railway line maintenance and could reduce workforce required for most tasks by 30%.

The new robot will also be used for felling trees, removing obstacles, painting infrastructure objects, and replacing signal equipment. Mechanization will not only reduce the risk of accidents caused by electric shocks or falls but also create conditions for a more diverse working environment, according to Railway Supply.

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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.

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