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Summary
The Tokyo Fire Department unveiled its latest rescue robot, nicknamed RoboCue, on Friday at its headquarters in Tokyo. The history of the Tokyo Fire Department goes back hundreds of years - and thousands of calamities, but this old school brigade has a 21st Century touch. Rescue robots have been used by one of the world's largest urban fire forces to battle blazes and potentially save lives since 1994. The upgraded robot now weighs less and has a longer-lasting battery life than previous models. Rolling into the danger zone, a conveyer belt allows the robot to scoop up the injured from the ground and back into its protective belly. While not establishing a new high in luxury travel, RoboCue can enter locations dangerous to humans, while firemen control rescue efforts safely from the outside. RoboCue, created in collaboration with universities and private firms, comes with an air supplier machine, air bag, camera, voice communication tool, as well as temperature and gas detection kit. Japan, home to almost half of the world's 800,000 industrial robots, expects the robot industry to expand to 10 billion U.S. dollars in 10 years.
