Robots Arrive at Fukushima Nuclear Site with Unclear Mission
Generally, bots have proved effective operating in high-radiation environments, but Japan's nuclear crisis poses new challenges
By
Larry Greenemeier | March 24, 2011
Full article:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...SA_DD_20110324
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TEPCo summoned a small corps of military-grade robots last week from iRobot Corp. in Bedford, Mass. Japan's Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co.
last week sent its Disaster Monitoring Robot, or Moni-Robo, to the Daiichi site as well. Other robotics companies ...
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The robots
Moni-Robo is reportedly on site at Daiichi... designed to be operated remotely—from as far as a kilometer away... includes a camera that can take video as well as 3-D thermographic images...also features sensors for measuring radioactivity and detecting combustible gases.
Inuktun ... "crawler" robots in a variety of sizes... are used primarily to inspect confined spaces such as pipes and sewers...
Four ... iRobot systems...reached Tokyo Monday night along with six of the company's engineers....designed primarily for explosive ordinance disposal ....
Warriors were modified so they could carry a 6.4-centimeter fire hose should more water be needed somewhere. ...
One ...fitted with a sensor that can detect radioactivity...
[others] ...can lift up to about 13.6 kilograms, move debris and potentially relocate hazardous materials... the Packbot can travel at up to 9.3 kilometers per hour and climb grades as steep as 60 degrees.