Humanoid robot to revolutionise railway maintenance in Japan

West Japan Railway's new humanoid employee, resembling a robot from 1980s sci-fi, is set to begin work this month.

The machine, featuring a rudimentary head and light-up eyes, is mounted on a truck that can drive on rails and will be used for maintenance tasks on the railway network.

The robot's duties include trimming tree branches along the rails and painting metal frames that support overhead cables.

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This technological innovation aims to address worker shortages caused by Japan's aging population and to reduce accidents, such as falls from heights or electric shocks.

"In the future, we hope to use machines for all kinds of maintenance operations of our infrastructure," said company president Kazuaki Hasegawa at a recent press conference. "This should provide a case study for how to deal with the labor shortage."

West Japan Railway’s initiative to integrate technology for operational efficiency and safety marks a significant step in modernizing railway maintenance amidst Japan’s demographic challenges.