The two Monirobo bots being used in Fukushima
As the Fukushima nuclear core continues to melt, the radiation levels are spiking in the area. Current levels are so high that workers can only spend 15 minutes in the area. Japan's Nuclear Safety Technology Centre and Ministry of Economy have developed a robot, after a nuclear accident in 1999, that can safely enter the radiated areas and perform tests and other tasks. Dubbed the Monirobo (Monitory Robot), this heavily shielded bot can travel 2.4 km per hour, has a 3D camera, many sensors for radiation, temperature, and humidity, and weighs approximately 600 kilos. Control of these bots can let operators stay up to 1km away from the radiated location.
Many robots are streaming in to Japan's nuclear danger zone all the time now. Officials hope to save more lives with these additions to the team.
With radiation level high, a no fly zone has been established over the Fukushima plant. The US Air Force has sent a Global Hawk drone to take pictures, thermal imaging, and Synthetic Aperture Radar used to give a detail image on the reactor area.
The number of unmanned robotic operations in this disaster is unprecedented. The need for more useful robots has proven to be a worthwhile cause.
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