Honda’s Disaster Response Robot Sorts Through Rubble

Today, we have robots that can measure radiation, fight fires, survey disastrous landscape, clear debris, and gage CO2. They can assist in natural disasters and enter dangerous locations that are questionable for human safety. Honda, a Japanese automobile company, has been known for its CRV’s and Accords, but in the past few decades, the business has extended its repertoire in the NHK film, “Robot Revolution”. This is a documentary designed to demonstrate robots Japan has in store for the future; in particular, Honda’s High-Access Survey Robot.

ASIMO’s Successor
Designed to enter dangerous areas after natural disasters, Honda’s creation stemmed from an original project, ASIMO, who failed to do just that. In March 2011, robots were put to the ultimate test; Japan suffered the biggest earthquake ever felt at a magnitude of 9.0 and followed by a tsunami standing over 130-feet tall. The National Police Agency of Japan reported over 16,000 people dead and almost 5,000 missing.

Japan’s robots surprisingly did not make the cut
Among the damage and aftereffects was the failing cooling systems due to built up hydrogen gas in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In the time of need, Japan called upon rescue robots from the United States to help investigate and through the rubble. It was a shock to all that Japan wasn’t prepared with their own robots, since the humanoid robot, ASIMO, a, was supposed to be Japan’s most high-tech robot. ASIMO turned out to be far too sensitive to enter the nuclear wreckage, making Japan dependent on other countries.

The High-Access Survey Robot is expected to have the ability to turn water valves and sort through debris

Motivated to remain the land of giant robots
Using this as extra motivation, Honda has been diligently working on designing the High-Access Survey Robot which could potentially save lives by searching through dangerous wreckage. As far as we know, the robot is still in the works; when debuted on the “Robot Revolution” it was only a computer interpretation as a complete humanoid with arms and legs and a full suit mimicking the body of a human, but no actual field experience. In the documentary, it demonstrates how the High-Access Survey Robot will be able to manage debris in a reactor building and have the ability to turn on water valves.

If the High-Access Survey Robot is brought to life, it is expected to be bigger, stronger, and more useful in a disastrous situation than ASIMO. Honda’s states, “[we] will accelerate the development of humanoid robots also designed for use in response to disasters, including the prevention and mitigation of damage caused by a disaster.” Honda has found that the life-size humanoid robot can be somewhat intimidating, so the team decided it would be perfect working alone in dangerous environments.

With disaster relief plans and innovative robots in the pipeline, we become more prepared for devastating disasters like Japan’s 2011 9.0 earthquake. As robots continue to alleviate hardships, one can’t help but wonder whether robots will end up replacing human jobs further down the road.

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By Emily Bahr