14 DAY TRIAL // Buildings need periodic checkups to make sure they aren't about to collapse on top of us, especially the big blocks and skyscrapers.
Normally, to check a building's foundation, a worker had to crawl underneath said building, regardless of how tight the space and how poor the air quality were. Then they would check for weakness or damage.
To remove the need for such danger and discomfort, Hitachi created a robot to do it instead.
Scientists entertained the idea of small vehicles with cameras in the past, but there were problems with sharp turns and the plastic sheet that protects against excess moisture. Basically, the sheet caught in the wheels.
The new robots can crawl and check things out just like humans would, so those problems don't apply anymore. Construction companies should be able to find uses around piping as well.
The EMIEW 2, as the robot is called, can stand, crawl and climb over 15cm-high objects (5.9 inches), but has rollers for when it needs to traverse straight passages.