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Rainbot Gets the Job Done Rainbot Gets the Job Done

By Hayley Birch

Construction workers will one day be able to down tools when the rain sets in, leaving robots to finish the job.

A 5’4” (160cm) humanoid robot, unveiled today by Kawada Industries in Japan, is the first of a new breed of bots designed with the construction industry in mind.

HRP-3 Promet Mk-11, as he’s so affectionately named, is more than showerproof; monsoons wouldn’t bother this cyber-brickie. At Kawada’s press briefing, the humanoid stretched his arms out under artificial rainfall, and the glare of the media spotlight.

At around $120,000 a pop, you won’t be able to afford one to repair your leaky roof, but big companies will have no
qualms about cashing in on the cheap
l
abour. Over a couple of years a Promet could more than earn his keep; no tea or fag breaks, no popping off for a bacon sarnie mid-morning, it’s slave labour without the human rights complications (although maybe not for long).

Workers might relish the opportunity to slink off at the first sign of a shower, but as these bots become more sophisticated, who’s going to want a bunch of real live lazy-ass, bacon butty munching builders?
"If a humanoid can substitute human functions, the entire social cost would be reduced," said a statement from Kawada. Out with the old, in with the new.
Kawada's earlier model: the new
one looks more Stormtrooper-esque

For more about robotic futures try:

- Straight - Be a hero: get a cyber-suit
- News - Thought control for robots
- Gadgets - Robo-things
- News - Robo-car on the roads

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