TOKYO--
Robot development firm Speecys Corp. has developed a small bipedal walking
robot powered by fuel cells.
Capitalizing on the fact that fuel
cells do not emit carbon dioxide or need to be charged, the company developed
the Speecys FC for use in research and at special events. It is 50cm tall,
weights 4.2kg and is operated by a personal computer via a wireless local
area network.
The robot is powered by five fuel
cell stacks located in its arms. A 16-liter canister of compressed hydrogen
is inserted near the robot's neck and provides enough fuel for around one
hour of operation.
The company will begin manufacturing
it on a build-to-order basis for universities, research institutions and
companies in July, with the robot to be priced at 2.5 million yen (US$22,850).
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