Company Honda has presented a new prototype of a humanoid robot-rescuer - model E2-DR. The robot can climb the stairs and ladders, work in the rain and move at speeds up to 4 kilometres per hour. This is reported by the IEEE Spectrum website.
The first prototype of the rescue robot, the humanoid model Asimo, was introduced by Honda in 2015. Then the specialists taught the robot to solve the necessary in emergency situations, but the task difficult for automatic systems - to climb the stepladder. Now the developers of the company have expanded the arsenal of abilities of the robot-rescuer. The new model, the humanoid robot E2-DR, was presented at the IROS 2017 conference in late September in Vancouver. The length of the robot is 168 centimetres, and the width of the largest part of the body is only 25 centimetres. E2-DR is equipped with several cameras and a rotating torso: it helps him to explore the terrain for hazards.
In addition to lifting to the stepladder (this was also possible with the previous development of Honda), the robot can climb the usual stairs (even with narrow steps), step over obstacles, pass through narrow spaces (for example, doors), navigate uneven surfaces, and also move on two extremities with a speed of 4 kilometers per hour, and for four - with a speed of 2.3 kilometers per hour. In addition, the robot can withstand temperature changes (from -10 and 40 degrees), is equipped with a special cooling system and is not afraid of moisture: E2-DR can work under heavy rain (though, for only 20 minutes).
So far, the robot has one significant drawback: it is unknown whether it can independently rise after a fall. According to the company, the prototype is still under revision: Honda also plans to equip the robot with a special system that will allow it to operate in these dangerous situations. About when the final, upgraded version of E2-DR will be presented, the company does not report.
People are attracted to work in emergency situations, not only robots but also drones: in our note, you can find out how drones have learned to save drowning people.
