
Rainbot Gets the Job Done
By Hayley Birch

A 5’4” (160cm) humanoid robot, unveiled today by Kawada Industries in Japan, is the first of a new breed of bots designed with the construction industry in mind.
HRP-3 Promet Mk-11, as he’s so affectionately named, is more than showerproof; monsoons wouldn’t bother this cyber-brickie. At Kawada’s press briefing, the humanoid stretched his arms out under artificial rainfall, and the glare of the media spotlight.
At around $120,000 a pop, you won’t be able to afford one to repair your leaky roof, but big companies will have no qualms about cashing in on the cheap
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Workers might relish the opportunity to slink off at the first sign of a shower, but as these bots become more sophisticated, who’s going to want a bunch of real live lazy-ass, bacon butty munching builders? "If a humanoid can substitute human functions, the entire social cost would be reduced," said a statement from Kawada. Out with the old, in with the new.
Kawada's earlier model: the new
one looks more Stormtrooper-esque

For more about robotic futures try:
- Straight - Be a hero: get a cyber-suit
- News - Thought control for robots
- Gadgets - Robo-things
- News - Robo-car on the roads
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