Spider Deployed for Disaster Relief Efforts
On May 21, the Noto Reconstruction Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) unveiled the "Spider" to the press.
The reconstruction team is now using this specialized type of heavy machinery to rebuild roads in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, following the devastating 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and record-breaking torrential rains.
Equipped with four agile spider-like legs, the machine can navigate sloped terrain. During the demonstration, it climbed over large rocks and even cut and carried fallen trees.
"We aim to make full use of the Spider's superior capabilities to accelerate reconstruction," said Tatsuya Minamitani, Section 3 engineering manager at the Noto Reconstruction office. The Spider climbs over large rocks in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The Spider is unveiled to the press in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on May 21.
According to MLIT, there are around 20 Spiders in Japan. That includes units owned by private companies. Their interchangeable arms allow for various tasks, such as excavation and piling. They also came in handy for clearing tangerine orchards buried by landslides in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, after heavy rains hit western Japan in November 2024. The Spider can also transport fallen trees. Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on May 21.
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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