With a rapidly aging population, Japan soon faces a shortage in its labor force. Tech companies such as Kawada Industries, though, are gearing to churn out humanoids as replacement workers.
Their prototype model is the recently unveiled HRP-3 Promet Mk-II, affectionately dubbed "Ma-kun." At a mere 1.6 meters tall and 68 kilograms in weight (battery included), Ma-kun is the billed as the future ideal blue collar worker. The robot can work under adverse weather conditions and on slippery terrain yet also able to perform mundane household tasks such as tightening loose screws with an electric screwdriver.
With this type of worker, sick days will be a rarity and it will never complain about working conditions. The end result would be a reduction in social cost.
Developers of Ma-kun hope to put units in place commercially. They are targeting companies such as construction contracting where the robots can be used to drive construction vehicles for instance. Each robot is expected to cost approximately $120,000.
Recently Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced it would rent out humanoids to staff front desks at hospitals and offices.
Could a humanoid like Ma-kun soon be replacing you or someone you know in the labor force?
Above is a video of Ma-kun displaying his skills.
Additional source info from
Yahoo News.
Are Robots Future of Japanese Work Force?
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