Japan is a country that values technology while remaining true to its traditions. Because of the country's lengthy aversion to accepting immigrants, aided by its low birth rate, Japan's&nbsp;population is rapidly ageing.&nbsp;Even as the country is taking steps to relax its tough immigration policies, it continues to be plagued by a shortage of labour.&nbsp;Now, Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a multinational company known for its industrial machines and heavy equipment have&nbsp;developed a robot that it believes will help with the country's labour shortage.&nbsp;And it is a quadruped robot, i.e., it is shaped like a four-footed animal, namely a goat.

The robot 'BEX' has been named after the wild goat species Ibex and it has horns.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-robot-learns-how-to-peel-banana-without-causing-any-damage-watch-469134">Japanese robot learns how to peel banana without causing any damage - Watch</a>

As per a Reuters report, BEX is still undergoing testing and the company behind the goat-robot hopes to commercialise it by 2023.

Yes, you read that right, the robot has large recurved horns and using its four legs it can easily walk over rough terrains. On smooth surfaces, it moves very quickly with the help of wheels it has tucked in its underbelly.

Watch |&nbsp;Singapore's robot workforce plugs labour gaps

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/singapores-robot-workforce-plugs-labour-gaps-483689/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

BEX can carry loads up to 100 kg or 220.4 lbs and is battery powered. It can be controlled by remote or move autonomously.

Kawasaki which is globally known for its motorcycles designed this robot for use in agricultural settings. The company started developing humanoid robots in the year 2017, however, those two-legged robots had a balancing problem. To counter that this four-legged robot has been developed.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-from-checking-on-construction-to-making-coffee-singapores-robots-to-fill-in-labour-gaps-483393">In pics: From checking on construction to making coffee, Singapore’s robots to fill in labour gaps</a>

Speaking to Reuters, Noboru Takagi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries', Division Executive Officer said that "In an ageing society, it can help elderly people who need to move around carrying heavy cargo. For example, it can support the farming or forestry industries where people need to move heavy cargo."

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Japan is a country that values technology while remaining true to its traditions. Because of the country's lengthy aversion to accepting immigrants, aided by its low birth rate, Japan's population is rapidly ageing.

Japan is a country that values technology while remaining true to its traditions. Because of the country's lengthy aversion to accepting immigrants, aided by its low birth rate, Japan's population is rapidly ageing. Even as the country is taking steps to relax its tough immigration policies, it continues to be plagued by a shortage of labour. Now, Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a multinational company known for its industrial machines and heavy equipment have developed a robot that it believes will help with the country's labour shortage. And it is a quadruped robot, i.e., it is shaped like a four-footed animal, namely a goat. The robot 'BEX' has been named after the wild goat species Ibex and it has horns. Also read | Japanese robot learns how to peel banana without causing any damage - Watch As per a Reuters report, BEX is still undergoing testing and the company behind the goat-robot hopes to commercialise it by 2023. Yes, you read that right, the robot has large recurved horns and using its four legs it can easily walk over rough terrains. On smooth surfaces, it moves very quickly with the help of wheels it has tucked in its underbelly. Watch | Singapore's robot workforce plugs labour gaps BEX can carry loads up to 100 kg or 220.4 lbs and is battery powered. It can be controlled by remote or move autonomously. Kawasaki which is globally known for its motorcycles designed this robot for use in agricultural settings. The company started developing humanoid robots in the year 2017, however, those two-legged robots had a balancing problem. To counter that this four-legged robot has been developed. Also read | In pics: From checking on construction to making coffee, Singapore’s robots to fill in labour gaps Speaking to Reuters, Noboru Takagi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries', Division Executive Officer said that "In an ageing society, it can help elderly people who need to move around carrying heavy cargo. For example, it can support the farming or forestry industries where people need to move heavy cargo." Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

To meet labour crunch, aid an aging population Japan develops 'BEX' a goat-robot

India&nbsp;is set to miss a December deadline to acquire land for a Japan-backed $17 billion bullet train project following protests by fruit growers, government officials said, likely delaying one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most ambitious projects.

Modi's office is now monitoring the project week-to-week, as&nbsp;Indian officials seek to reassure Tokyo that the hurdles can be overcome through intense negotiations with sapota and mango growers in Maharashtra.

Protests, backed by local politicians, have flared up in recent months against attempts to secure sections of a 108-km stretch, which is around one-fifth of the entire bullet train corridor connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, the largest commercial city in Modi's home state Gujarat.

"I've worked hard for three decades to develop this plantation, and they are asking me to hand over this land," sapota farmer Dashrat Purav, 62, said as he showed his orchard in the town of Palghar, a three-hour-drive north of Mumbai.

"I haven't worked hard to surrender land for the project. I did that for my children."

Purav said he would sell his land only if at least one of his two unemployed sons was promised a government job.

Protests against land acquisitions are common in&nbsp;India, where tens of millions of farmers till small holdings. A planned $44 billion refinery to be run by a consortium including Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producer, is also struggling to secure land in Maharashtra.

"Land acquisition for any project is complex in&nbsp;India," said Dhananjay Kumar, spokesman for the National High-Speed Rail Corp Ltd (NHSRCL) that is overseeing the project. "Here also we are facing difficulty because of so much resistance."

Failure to procure the bullet train land by the deadline would delay disbursal of soft-loans by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a government development body, which is reviewing the project next month, said two senior officials with the state-run&nbsp;Indian Railways, declining to be named.

A JICA spokeswoman said that&nbsp;India&nbsp;must create&nbsp;relocation plans for local residents and make them public in order to enter into a loan agreement covering the main part of the bullet train project.

"It is possible that it takes time to sign a contract as&nbsp;India&nbsp;takes proper and careful measures in line with JICA's guidelines for environmental and social considerations," she said.

To assuage Japan's concerns,&nbsp;Indian officials have sought a meeting this month with transport ministry officials in Tokyo, one of the&nbsp;Indian officials said.&nbsp;India&nbsp;wants the project's completion target to be advanced by a year to 2022, the 75th year of&nbsp;India's independence.

A Japanese transport ministry official who deals with the bullet train project said that&nbsp;Indian officials had told them that "they can manage" the land acquisition.

"We will continue to work together with the&nbsp;Indian government to bring this project forward with an aim to start operation in 2023," the official said.

'NOT INSURMOUNTABLE'

Japan is majority-funding the train project through a 50-year loan. Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp, JFE Holdings, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba Corp and Hitachi are likely to supply at least 70 per cent of the core components of the rail line, sources told Reuters in January.

Modi has called the project crucial for his pet "Make in&nbsp;India" campaign aimed at lifting the share of manufacturing in&nbsp;India's $2 trillion economy. The government also hopes to generate hundreds of jobs through the train project, and hence is pushing hard to finish it on time.

To sweeten the terms for people opposed to selling their land,&nbsp;Indian Railways has put its weight behind NHSRCL, pledging funds from its own welfare scheme to build schools and community halls, one of the officials said.

Ashwani Lohani, chairman of the&nbsp;Indian Railway Board, said the issues with farmers were not insurmountable.

The government has offered to buy land at a 25 per cent premium to the market value, the two government officials said. Farmers are also being offered resettlement dues of 500,000 rupees ($7,409) or 50 per cent of the land value, whichever is higher.

However, local political opposition in Palghar, ahead of a general election next year, has fanned the protests. Opponents say the bullet train is wasteful and the money would be better used upgrading the country's rickety rail infrastructure. Farmers have threatened a hunger strike.

Last week, farmers and local activists disrupted a public hearing conducted by NHSRCL, its second attempt to hold such an event in less than a month. The first one last month was also cut short by protests.

"In coming weeks, we will intensify the protests," said Nilam&nbsp;Gorhe, a spokesman for Shiv Sena, a regional party that has an on-off relationship with Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The delays have followed protests by fruit growers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office is now monitoring the project week-to-week

India is set to miss a December deadline to acquire land for a Japan-backed $17 billion bullet train project following protests by fruit growers, government officials said, likely delaying one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most ambitious projects. Modi's office is now monitoring the project week-to-week, as Indian officials seek to reassure Tokyo that the hurdles can be overcome through intense negotiations with sapota and mango growers in Maharashtra. Protests, backed by local politicians, have flared up in recent months against attempts to secure sections of a 108-km stretch, which is around one-fifth of the entire bullet train corridor connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, the largest commercial city in Modi's home state Gujarat. "I've worked hard for three decades to develop this plantation, and they are asking me to hand over this land," sapota farmer Dashrat Purav, 62, said as he showed his orchard in the town of Palghar, a three-hour-drive north of Mumbai. "I haven't worked hard to surrender land for the project. I did that for my children." Purav said he would sell his land only if at least one of his two unemployed sons was promised a government job. Protests against land acquisitions are common in India, where tens of millions of farmers till small holdings. A planned $44 billion refinery to be run by a consortium including Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producer, is also struggling to secure land in Maharashtra. "Land acquisition for any project is complex in India," said Dhananjay Kumar, spokesman for the National High-Speed Rail Corp Ltd (NHSRCL) that is overseeing the project. "Here also we are facing difficulty because of so much resistance." Failure to procure the bullet train land by the deadline would delay disbursal of soft-loans by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a government development body, which is reviewing the project next month, said two senior officials with the state-run Indian Railways, declining to be named. A JICA spokeswoman said that India must create relocation plans for local residents and make them public in order to enter into a loan agreement covering the main part of the bullet train project. "It is possible that it takes time to sign a contract as India takes proper and careful measures in line with JICA's guidelines for environmental and social considerations," she said. To assuage Japan's concerns, Indian officials have sought a meeting this month with transport ministry officials in Tokyo, one of the Indian officials said. India wants the project's completion target to be advanced by a year to 2022, the 75th year of India's independence. A Japanese transport ministry official who deals with the bullet train project said that Indian officials had told them that "they can manage" the land acquisition. "We will continue to work together with the Indian government to bring this project forward with an aim to start operation in 2023," the official said. 'NOT INSURMOUNTABLE' Japan is majority-funding the train project through a 50-year loan. Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp, JFE Holdings, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba Corp and Hitachi are likely to supply at least 70 per cent of the core components of the rail line, sources told Reuters in January. Modi has called the project crucial for his pet "Make in India" campaign aimed at lifting the share of manufacturing in India's $2 trillion economy. The government also hopes to generate hundreds of jobs through the train project, and hence is pushing hard to finish it on time. To sweeten the terms for people opposed to selling their land, Indian Railways has put its weight behind NHSRCL, pledging funds from its own welfare scheme to build schools and community halls, one of the officials said. Ashwani Lohani, chairman of the Indian Railway Board, said the issues with farmers were not insurmountable. The government has offered to buy land at a 25 per cent premium to the market value, the two government officials said. Farmers are also being offered resettlement dues of 500,000 rupees ($7,409) or 50 per cent of the land value, whichever is higher. However, local political opposition in Palghar, ahead of a general election next year, has fanned the protests. Opponents say the bullet train is wasteful and the money would be better used upgrading the country's rickety rail infrastructure. Farmers have threatened a hunger strike. Last week, farmers and local activists disrupted a public hearing conducted by NHSRCL, its second attempt to hold such an event in less than a month. The first one last month was also cut short by protests. "In coming weeks, we will intensify the protests," said Nilam Gorhe, a spokesman for Shiv Sena, a regional party that has an on-off relationship with Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Bullet train: India to miss December deadline to acquire land

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To meet labour crunch, aid an aging population Japan develops 'BEX' a goat-robot

Bullet train: India to miss December deadline to acquire land