Want to crawl inside a nuke plant swinging a hammer? No? Toshiba's inspection bots will do it instead

On Wednesday Toshiba launched its commercialized robot inspection services for power plant turbine generators. The Japanese MNC offers two types of robots: an ultra-thin version for all sizes of generators, and a more multi-function problem-solving version for – in Toshiba's words – "a wide range of inspections for domestic …

[Anonymous Coward]

"Swinging a hammer"?

There I was, looking forward to some 1cm thick contraption with a sledgehammer sticking out but no, it merely taps.

Interesting device, mind, but my inner child couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed for some reason :)

[J.G.Harston]

Taking over yuman jobs. Won't they be demanding yuman rights, like on Star Trek?

[TRT]

They might start by forming...

their own social club.

[Mike 137]

Horses for courses

This is where automata really do pay off. It's a pity that applications like these are in the minority among the plethora of rather pointless consumer-targeted offerings ('autonomous' lawn mowers at al.). But I guess the latter are where the big money is - you can only sell so many nuclear reactor inspection robots.

[Disgusted Of Tunbridge Wells]

Re: Horses for courses

The automated lawn-mower is an advance, just like the automated washing machine was.

I can't wait until they're cheap enough that I can justify having a robot mow my lawn.

[Gene Cash]

Re: Horses for courses

Considering how expensive lawn service is getting, that's not such a low bar any more.

[M.V. Lipvig]

Re: Horses for courses

I can see it now, the Tesla robo-mower, chasing Little Jimmy up a tree before atracking a police cruiser

[SVD_NL]

Re: Horses for courses

The big advantage of catering to a niche market is that you can put a price tag on it that allows you to cover the millions you put in R&D. Especially if that market is used to dealing with massive amounts of money

[TheRealRoland]

But will it be able to do the 'Huh... That's funny.' thing, while buzzing around?

[David 132]

All I can think of is this scene from Chernobyl. Let's hope this one is rated for more than 2000 Roentgen.

[Anonymous Coward]

that is a shame

I knew a guy who performed cooling line (from the river to the buildings) inspections at a nuclear plant, a couple of coal plants, and an LNG plant. He earned enough during those 10 days out of the year that he didn't need a 2nd job.

[M.V. Lipvig]

Tink tink tonk

oops...