When the society became aging, Japanese companies developed all kinds of robots aimed at filling in the gap of human resources. Among all the Japanese Robots, the most famous one should be Honda’s ASIMO, who used to visit Czech Republic with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI. Besides Honda, Toyota has violinist robot; Sony, dancing robot …etc.
In this radioactive leak crisis, it appeared that Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company could not cool down the spent rods of reactors. The nuclear plants were well designed to survive the quake of magnitude 9.0 and subsequent tsunami. However, the cooling system which is critical to nuclear power plant when it shut down was damaged by tsunami. Therefore, though the nuclear plants were shut down as designed, the failure of cooling system could not prevent reactors from overheating. We watched/read the news talking about deploying helicopters and water cannons to cool the damaged reactors. But such attempt was soon forced back by high level of radiation. There were news about heroic “Fukushima 50” in the nuclear power plants trying to remedy the damage; local police force drove fire engines to spray water to cool down reactor after self-defense force refused the assignment….etc. I couldn’t help wondering where is ASIMO? Why the world’s most famous robot producing nation did not deploy robots to do such dangerous job?
Japan government does not own ASIMO, but is there anyone who thought of deploying robots to do this dangerous job? I logged on ASIMO’s website; a very attractive slogan pop out, “ASIMO is designed to help people.” ASIMO, please help Japanese people from the dangerous radiation!
Japan’s crisis though was caused by the nature, its progressing toward radioactive disaster appeared to be of human factors. Among many, I think lack of leadership was very serious problem in Japanese society. Again, I couldn’t help thinking if Soiciro HONDA were still around, then what would have happened. I think very likely he and his engineers would have worked all days & all nights to modify ASIMO to take some loading of his fellow compatriots & to protect them from malicious radiation. I just took ASIMO as a representative of Japanese-made robots, and Mr. Honda, a leader and creator. There are plenty of robots designed and made in Japan; there used to be great leaders there, too.
I knew it's too much to ask of ASIMO to undertake such difficult assignmnet, after all he is just a 10-year-old kid. But those brilliant engineers in Japan, don't you eager to help your compatriots in great difficulty even on the verge of death? I think many do, but ..... again the leadership problem emerges. I admire Japanese people could behave orderly under such circumstances, even those whose home & property were lost during tsuami, and those who were evacuated from radioactive infected area. However, who is/are going to lead them weather all these disaster and difficulties?
Good luck, Japan, and may god bless you!
relative websites of robots by major Japanese vendors.
Honda's ASIMO http://world.honda.com/ASIMO/
Toyota's Robot http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/special/robot/
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