Comments on: Japan Nuclear Crisis: "Monirobo," the radiation-monitoring robot, arrives http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 06:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: foxtails http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059854 foxtails Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059854 <quote>…Monirobo is about 32 inches long, 52 inches in diameter…</quote> It doesn't look very round to me. …Monirobo is about 32 inches long, 52 inches in diameter…

It doesn’t look very round to me.

]]> By: dainel http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1061146 dainel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1061146 It's described as 52in high, 32in long, 52in diameter. Yet the drawing shows 150cm high and long, 80cm wide. Which comes out to 59in high and long, by 32in wide. But it weighs 600kg. Approx 10 people. Is this thing made of solid lead? Will it fall through the floor from being so heavy? It’s described as 52in high, 32in long, 52in diameter. Yet the drawing shows 150cm high and long, 80cm wide. Which comes out to 59in high and long, by 32in wide.

But it weighs 600kg. Approx 10 people. Is this thing made of solid lead? Will it fall through the floor from being so heavy?

]]> By: TheCrawNotTheCraw http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059872 TheCrawNotTheCraw Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059872 When they determined thhat the facility was damaged, Monirobo should have been dispatched immediately. It could have been sent via helicopter. I have heard/read that the spent fuel pool got into trouble "only" because the water got low, because the crew were focused on Reactors 1-3. If the emergency concerning the Reactor 4 spent fuel pool is as dangerous as Reactors 1-3 *combined*, and it may be, and it was avoidable, that is a serious lesson to be learned: a rad mon robot has to be among the first on the scene, for those areas too dangerous or damaged to otherwise monitor. "Go, Robo!" When they determined thhat the facility was damaged, Monirobo should have been dispatched immediately. It could have been sent via helicopter.

I have heard/read that the spent fuel pool got into trouble “only” because the water got low, because the crew were focused on Reactors 1-3.

If the emergency concerning the Reactor 4 spent fuel pool is as dangerous as Reactors 1-3 *combined*, and it may be, and it was avoidable, that is a serious lesson to be learned: a rad mon robot has to be among the first on the scene, for those areas too dangerous or damaged to otherwise monitor.

“Go, Robo!”

]]> By: IWood http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059884 IWood Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059884 This is a sensor-bearing robot designed for the sole purpose of telling you just how fucked you are, from a distance. This is a sensor-bearing robot designed for the sole purpose of telling you just how fucked you are, from a distance.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1060423 Michael Smith Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060423 I don't see why the operator has to be within 1.1km. Can't it have a sat phone? I don’t see why the operator has to be within 1.1km. Can’t it have a sat phone?

]]> By: Kaleberg http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1060197 Kaleberg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060197 Gosh, and I had so hoped that the Japanese government had secretly developed an army of giant robots. That would have been a really wonderful surprise. I guess these little fellers, and others like them, will have to serve and do honor to robot-kind. I suppose each time has its own fantasies to deal with its challenges. Look at Superman emerging from the growing chaos and horror of the 1930s. I suppose this is mine. Gosh, and I had so hoped that the Japanese government had secretly developed an army of giant robots. That would have been a really wonderful surprise. I guess these little fellers, and others like them, will have to serve and do honor to robot-kind.

I suppose each time has its own fantasies to deal with its challenges. Look at Superman emerging from the growing chaos and horror of the 1930s. I suppose this is mine.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1060218 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060218 I suppose this is a bit off topic, but thank you for not applying nonexistent precision to the translated units. Most media would take copy saying "the [robot] weighs about 600kg" and publish that in a US newspaper or magazine as "the [robot] weighs about 1,323 lb." I suppose this is a bit off topic, but thank you for not applying nonexistent precision to the translated units. Most media would take copy saying “the [robot] weighs about 600kg” and publish that in a US newspaper or magazine as “the [robot] weighs about 1,323 lb.”

]]> By: patrikd http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059975 patrikd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059975 About damn time too. All this guessing at the water levels of the spent fuel pools etc. is getting a bit ridiculous. Let's hope these robots can open doors at least, and that they're not too top-heavy to drive over some rubble if need be. With all the explosions in units 1-4, I bet this is not a very bot-friendly environment. They seem to have sent only a single robot, even though the picture seems to indicate they have at least two of these available - why not send both? They have at least four reactors to monitor, plus two more where the spent fuel pools are heating up. Even if the second robot is disassembled in some university lab, I'd put the entire team on a military cargo plane, and tell them they'd better get it up and running by the time they get to their destination... About damn time too. All this guessing at the water levels of the spent fuel pools etc. is getting a bit ridiculous.

Let’s hope these robots can open doors at least, and that they’re not too top-heavy to drive over some rubble if need be. With all the explosions in units 1-4, I bet this is not a very bot-friendly environment.

They seem to have sent only a single robot, even though the picture seems to indicate they have at least two of these available – why not send both? They have at least four reactors to monitor, plus two more where the spent fuel pools are heating up. Even if the second robot is disassembled in some university lab, I’d put the entire team on a military cargo plane, and tell them they’d better get it up and running by the time they get to their destination…

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1060274 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060274 What the F took them so long to send them in? What the F took them so long to send them in?

]]> By: penguinchris http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059773 penguinchris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059773 And naturally, it looks both highly technical and cool, yet cute: excellent, I say. And naturally, it looks both highly technical and cool, yet cute: excellent, I say.

]]> By: a_user http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059783 a_user Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059783 <blockquote> to measure radiation levels within a site now so contaminated, it is unsafe for humans. </blockquote> so it's robots that just hooked up the power at the Fukushima plant?

to measure radiation levels within a site now so contaminated, it is unsafe for humans.

so it’s robots that just hooked up the power at the Fukushima plant?

]]> By: johnnyaction http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059796 johnnyaction Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059796 Robots. Fuck yeah. Robots. Fuck yeah.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059797 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059797 Suggested theme song for robots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_MFJwDThPg Go robots go! perform your function! Suggested theme song for robots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_MFJwDThPg

Go robots go!
perform your function!

]]> By: Neural Kernel http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1060326 Neural Kernel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060326 I wonder how much of this is just because of all the nuclear bureaucracy? Can't just send in that robot you boffins whipped up in the workshop... it has to be CERTIFIED! Quick, where do we find a certified robot? Oh, there's only two and it takes thirty years to get more approvals... assuming the planets are aligned properly and we can find the reincarnations of Einstein and Fermi to sign this, this, that and over here... in triplicate please... I wonder how much of this is just because of all the nuclear bureaucracy? Can’t just send in that robot you boffins whipped up in the workshop… it has to be CERTIFIED! Quick, where do we find a certified robot? Oh, there’s only two and it takes thirty years to get more approvals… assuming the planets are aligned properly and we can find the reincarnations of Einstein and Fermi to sign this, this, that and over here… in triplicate please…

]]> By: Micheal Kelly http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059817 Micheal Kelly Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059817 If I had a few million in spare cash laying around, I'd arrange a physics undergrad degree for every journalist/blogger covering Fukushima. This is a worth a read: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/18/fukushima_friday/ If I had a few million in spare cash laying around, I’d arrange a physics undergrad degree for every journalist/blogger covering Fukushima.

This is a worth a read:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/18/fukushima_friday/

]]> By: a_user http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/japan-nuclear-crisis-5.html#comment-1059834 a_user Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059834 Excellent article. What gets me is the factual inaccuracies being perpetuated by the "professional" media are clearly wilful because it sells copy. Excellent article.

What gets me is the factual inaccuracies being perpetuated by the “professional” media are clearly wilful because it sells copy.

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