Pre-spring fire festival takes place in western Japan

Pre-spring fire festival takes place in western Japan

TONDABAYASHI, Japan - Men carry a 120-kilogram, 4.5-meter-high torch at a fire festival called "Dadaoshi" at the snow-covered Hasedera temple in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2014, in a traditional rite praying for the early advent of spring.

Hospital helper robot planned to make debut next spring

Hospital helper robot planned to make debut next spring

OSAKA, Japan - Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. said July 10 it plans to introduce next spring a robot that can work in hospitals delivering small materials such as patient files and X-ray films. With the cooperation of the Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital in Shiga Prefecture, the robot is now being tested for practical use. The 120-kilogram robot is 1.3-meters high, 0.6-meter wide and 0.75-meter in depth.

Hospital helper robot planned to make debut next spring

Hospital helper robot planned to make debut next spring

OSAKA, Japan - Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. said July 10 it plans to introduce next spring a robot that can work in hospitals delivering small materials such as patient files and X-ray films. With the cooperation of the Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital in Shiga Prefecture, the robot is now being tested for practical use. The 120-kilogram robot is 1.3-meters high, 0.6-meter wide and 0.75-meter in depth.

Chiba Univ. group produces robot to detect land mines

Chiba Univ. group produces robot to detect land mines

CHIBA, Japan - A Chiba University research group unveils on Feb. 22 a prototype of a spider-like robot that can detect antipersonnel land mines by remote control. The group, led by Kenzo Nonami, professor at the state-run university's engineering faculty, plans to put the 120-kilogram machine into mass production.