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Okay admit it. Not only is Aliens one of the greatest movies of all time, but it instilled in you a secret lust to engage Alien queens in battle with a giant, futuristic cargo stacking mech. Okay, perhaps we are overstating this just a touch, but we were still totally excited to see Japanese engineers demonstrate a fully functional Dual-Arm Power Amplification Robot, particularly one that gives users superhuman strength, and was quite obviously inspired by the cult sci-fi classic.
The robot, which is being designed with a commercial future in mind, is capable of lifting more than 100kg, but itself weighs slightly over 230kg. Given these specs, obvious safety concerns are raised by wearing a suit that is heavy enough to crush its wearer, however, Chief engineer Go Shirogauchi claims the robot is quite safe. “The most important challenge is not to injure the operator with the amplified power” he said. “For that challenge, a delicate control and a mechanics design which does not put too much force onto a human in the worst situation is required”.
The robot is primarily being designed for the construction industry, but Shirogauchi claims they plan to have plenty of interchangeable parts to make it viable in many more situations. “Our intention is not to develop a small power shovel, but to create a common platform which can be applied to many areas other than the construction sites” said Shirogauchi.
The arms are expected to cost about $357,000 when they eventually come to market, hopefully sometime in 2015.
Comments are closed on this article
shweta
February 23, 2010 at 9:10pm
<a href=http://www.mechanicalmetals.com>corrugated metal, metal roofing and metal panels</a>:-
Trooper_One
November 02, 2009 at 1:25pm
Hopefully future improvements will be able to do much more. First improvement - cup holder.
reddy.hkcs
March 04, 2010 at 4:40am
Starting to understand a bit more now... Thanks for keeping it simple!
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http://www.urbaninspectreport.com.au/
timekills
October 31, 2009 at 8:22pm
100KG = approx 221 pounds. Umm, I weight slightly less than said 100KG (i.e. > 230% less than said machine) and can easily lift 221 pounds to any place up to about 8' off the ground. Now, eventually I'd get tired, but I sure wouldn't hurt anybody else doing it and I don't cost $357K to buy either.
I need to ask my employer for a raise, I guess since apparently I have superhuman strength. Too bad my primary job isn't manual labor.
bloodgain
November 01, 2009 at 7:24am
I thought the same thing when I first read 100kg, but you have to consider 2 things:
1) By 2015, the machine will probably be capable of lifting a good bit more. If not, improvements (and competition) should begin to appear shortly after its commercial release.
2) You may be able to lift 100kg to a full press (8' high?) if you're a relatively lean/muscular 200+, since indications are that the world record is over 500 pounds (this is with some snap, mind you, not a clean military-style press). However, I doubt you can do it with much more than a barbell, and I doubt you can do it for as long as anyone using the machine could.
You can lift for a while, but you get tired, especially if you lift near your maximum weight. When you get tired, you rest -- but you still get paid. If someone in the machine can lift the machine's maximum with little or no rest like a crane driver might, his efficiency will pay for the machine over time. Also, let's not forget that this machine will likely reduce lifting injuries on the job, which means less lost time and less spent on worker's compensation and disability.
By 2020, when the price has come down a bit, I bet every major construction site has as many of these as they do Bobcats.
COMMANDER_COOK
October 31, 2009 at 10:01pm
You must be one big guy. I'm 5'9 160 pounds (without my shoes) and I have to stand on the tips of my toes to reach the button on my smoke alarm on the ceiling. And that's 7'11 in the air.
K0BALT
October 31, 2009 at 6:49pm
How are the guys building a freeway gonna be able to hold their coffee and ciggarette when just standing there doing nothing..... built in cup holder?
to0002
October 31, 2009 at 3:40pm
is it me or he took the idea from the matrix movies?
http://www.nra.co.za/content/apu73.jpg
domih2009
October 31, 2009 at 6:41pm
http://www.ugo.com/movies/knockouts-by-knockouts/?cur=ko-aliens
http://images.google.com/images?q=SARCOS
JohnP
October 31, 2009 at 12:50pm
I bet I can pick his pockets and get away before he could get his hands out of those arms...
Havok
October 31, 2009 at 10:16am
I just want an HEV suit, complete with crowbar and jump-pack module!
CLICK.
nekollx
October 31, 2009 at 10:05am
can geneticaly enginered super soldiers be far behind?
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
snapple00
November 01, 2009 at 9:29am
What is 'geneticaly enginered' ? Hopefully the super soldiers know how to spell simple words. You will be very obsolete in the near future.
hammerfell
October 31, 2009 at 8:31am
i don't think that man is havving kids ever again.....
that harness is not man friendly....
