Taipei’s Fire Department shows off firefighting robot

Taipei’s Fire Department shows off firefighting robot

2023-10-20

Taipei’s Fire Department held Taiwan’s first ever firefighting drill using a robot on Friday. The remote-controlled machine is equipped with a water cannon with a range of 80 meters, as well as an infrared sensor. It is especially designed to mitigate risks in big fires in industrial areas and enclosed spaces like tunnels. Let’s hear from Taipei’s Fire Department.

Liu Yung-pan
Taipei City Fire Department
In factories and in spaces like tunnels, we can deploy the robot to help firefighters respond more quickly and safely.

Chiu Chien-kai
Taipei City Fire Department
For fires in which firefighters do not need to enter the disaster area, we can use the robot to put out the fire with foam. We at the Fu’an Fire Station are in charge of Shezi Island, which has a lot of factories.

The robot was imported from Austria at a cost of more than NT$10 million, and is one of two currently in use in Taiwan. It has fans that can blow 90,000 cubic meters of air to clear out smoke. A foam spray allows it to also extinguish chemical fires. The remote controls have a range of 300 meters, and the robot itself can move up slopes and deal with obstacles on its course.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

首亮相! 消防機器人演練水線射程最遠達80米

2023-10-20

降低消防員風險，消防機器人首度亮相。台北市消防局，進行全國第一場的消防機器人救災演練，機器人本身配有砲塔設計，消防射水最遠可達80公尺，加上有紅外線熱顯示儀，面對工廠、隧道大火，都能有效協助救災。

[[台北市消防局主秘劉永洀]]
“尤其是在工廠的部分，或者是說在一些特殊隧道裡面，我們可以發揮機器人的功能，讓我們的消防人員救災，更為迅速而且更為安全”

[[台北市消防局福安分隊長邱建凱]]
“基本上可以在救災人員不用進去火場的前提之下，我們消防機器人，就可以達到泡沫滅火的效果，我們目前是部署在福安分隊，那福安分隊的轄區是在社子島，社子島基本上都是工廠林立”

奧地利進口，造價千萬的消防機器人，全國只有兩台，每小時9萬立方公尺的排風能力，可瞬間吹散濃煙，另外像是化學火災，機器人備有泡沫噴灑，還能爬坡以及越過障礙物，遠端遙控可達300公尺。

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A group of DPP lawmakers representing constituencies in Kaohsiung held a press conference Friday urging TSMC to set up shop to the southern port city. The presser comes just days after TSMC abandoned plans to build its most sophisticated chip fab in Taoyuan’s Longtan District. The lawmakers say Kaohsiung can provide all the resources necessary for TSMC, which plays an invaluable role in global chip supply chains.

Shouting their support for TSMC, DPP lawmakers representing constituencies in Kaohsiung on Friday held a press conference in the Legislative Yuan, stating that they would make every effort so that the chipmaker could set up a plant in Kaohsiung.

Lai Jui-lung
DPP lawmaker
If Longtan doesn’t want TSMC, then Kaohsiung wants it. To win these TSMC-related semiconductor industries, the most critical factors are land, electricity, water and resolve from the local government involved. Kaohsiung has made complete preparations for these four items and they have all been set up in advance. The Kaohsiung city government team led by Mayor Chen Chi-mai is fighting for this, making every effort to win over TSMC and eliminate each difficulty.

TSMC recently announced it had dropped plans to build a fab using 1.4-nanometer processes in Longtan Science Park, shocking the public. When the news first broke, it wasn’t just Kaohsiung, but also several other counties and cities that were vying to host the proposed fab, including Tainan and Miaoli. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai immediately expressed his position, saying he wouldn’t waste time talking and instead get down to work to attract the firm.

Hsu Chih-chieh
DPP lawmaker
From this incident, we can see the different government styles in the DPP and KMT. We in the DPP work hard to attract investment and we fight for the economy and take the initiative. Particularly with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, he has worked very hard with our Kaohsiung legislators to attract investment. Kaohsiung already has experience in setting up related supporting administrative facilities. It is Taiwan’s fastest and most proactive city. The KMT only cares about elections, and destroys hard-won results of investment promotions.

Lee Po-yi
DPP legislative candidate
The Kaohsiung City Government’s other renovated factory areas, and another three districts were renovated and opened up for bids in August this year. Currently companies are setting up shop in these areas, one after another. It so happens that this is happening at the same time as TSMC calling off its plans for a 1.4-nanometer process fab in Taoyuan.

Observers say the canceled plans for Longtan could cost the area 5,000 job opportunities and cause housing prices to collapse. Over in the south, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and DPP lawmakers are working their hardest to lure TSMC to the city.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-10-20

Neihu plunged into traffic chaos as Formosa Plastics Group relocates over 4,000 workers

Rush hour traffic at Neihu Technology Park on Friday became even more hectic than ever, as Formosa Plastics Group began operations at its new headquarters in the area. The firm’s relocation has added 4,000 workers to Neihu District, which has long been plagued with traffic woes. The company says it has launched shuttle bus services and implemented staggered working hours to minimize the impact, but local residents say traffic is even worse than before.

A group of workers rush across the street to get to work. A warden directs the flow of traffic while police officers are at the ready. Formosa Plastics Group has moved to a new building in Taipei’s Neihu District, bringing a large number of new commuters to the area.

Chen Yen-lin
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Formosa Plastics Group has relocated to a new building, bringing over more than 4,000 employees. That’s making rush hour in Neihu even more hectic than it already was.

Local resident
Even before Formosa Plastics Group moved in, our traffic was already a mess. In the morning and evening rush, buses would get stuck in traffic for ages over there at Zhoumei Borough. And, the traffic links to this area weren’t that good to begin with. There’s no MRT, and there’s very few buses servicing the area. Sometimes the bus comes but you can’t get on, or you can assume the risk and try to cram yourself in.

Chiu Li-ling
Zhoumei Borough warden
Traffic really comes to a standstill. Residents in our borough who go to the Nanjing Apartment Market to buy groceries have no bus for their return trip. What can they do to get back if they can’t take the bus? And for the kids in Zhoumei Borough, there are no buses they can take to school. There’s no space for them at 7 or 8 in the morning.

Locals are frustrated, and the borough warden gets complaints nonstop. Locals report that even before Formosa Plastics Group moved in, long lines would form at bus stops, and spaces on buses would be scarce. The company has released a statement saying that, since April this year, it has been in talks with the Taipei city government to increase the number of buses servicing the area. In addition, it offers shuttle bus services to 480 employees and flexible working hours to stagger out commutes.

Hsieh Ming-hung
Taipei City Department of Transportation
We are drawing up plans and reviewing proposals to update road layouts, YouBike docks and bus connections.

Formosa Plastics Group moved out of its almost 50-year-old building in Dunhua North Road to Neihu, bringing in over almost 5,000 employees. The extra burden has only worsened traffic in the area, with residents asking for solutions from the government and the company.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-10-20

What’s it like to work at a real estate agency with a four-day week?

A major petition in May called for Taiwan to adopt a four-day work week. Although it received many signatures, it was rejected by the Executive Yuan as too difficult to implement. However, a small number of businesses have voluntarily adopted the system. Testimonies from their employees have sparked fierce debate online. Today, we head to a real estate agency with a four-day week, to find out from the manager and the employees what it has done for workplace culture, and for work-life balance.

Most real estate agents in Taiwan have long working hours, and lots of stress. But unlike most, in this agency, they only work 9-5 four days a week.

It’s written in big letters on this job advert outside the agency: “Real Estate Agents Wanted, Four-Day Working Week, 9-5, No Experience Required, Guaranteed Monthly Salary NT$40,000.” The big benefit touted for new hires is the four-day week.

Real estate agent
It’s not that I was envious. It was more like, “How is that even possible? How can a company be so great?”

Ho Chun-ta
Real estate agency branch manager
Lots of real estate agents can do the job. But they can’t do it for long. They get exhausted after a few years, or they can’t take good care of their family. So I thought, a four-day week was a way to allow colleagues to take proper care of their families while working. The number of days off our colleagues get each month went from six to eight and now to 12. And actually, our productivity has grown every year the last few years.

The branch manager claims that since the four-day week was adopted, profits have been unaffected, while overall productivity has increased. In May of this year, a petition called for Taiwan to promote the four-day week. Although it was eventually shot down by the Executive Yuan, a small number of companies did quietly decide to adopt the system.

Member of public
You need to see whether those three days off are really totally off work. Because some will say it’s a three-day weekend, but actually they still give you something to do, so you’re just working at home.

The workplace culture can be quite grim in many Taiwanese companies. Even if the three days off are not over one big block, and even if the salary is reduced, many employees would jump at the chance to take a four-day week.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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‘Queen of Badminton’ Tai Tzu-ying wins 500th match of her career

Taiwan’s Queen of Badminton Tai Tzu-ying has achieved the 500th win of her career. It was a Round of 16 match at the Denmark Open, where she defeated her opponent from Thailand 2-0. If we count her wins in women’s singles games only, the game was Tai’s 497th win. That means, that if she makes it to the final of the Denmark Open and wins the title, she’ll have achieved 500 singles wins.

A video shows Tai Tzu-ying’s growth, from the beginnings of her professional career to her rise as the “Queen of Badminton.”

Tai has amassed 500 victories over her career, according to the data from the Badminton World Federation available online. The tally includes her wins playing single and doubles events, but not team events or wins in junior competitions. On Facebook, Tai thanked her fans saying that every victory was hard-won, and that she was thrilled to have reached another milestone. She thanked fans for their support along the way, adding that she would continue to work hard and cherish every moment on the court.

Tai is currently playing at the Denmark Open, where she recently beat Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 2-0 in the round of 16, earning a ticket to the quarterfinals. That victory was her 497th win in singles. In addition, Tai has been at the top of the world rankings for 214 weeks, making her the women’s singles player who has held the title for the longest time. If all goes smoothly and she wins her third Denmark Open title, she will have tallied up 500 victories in women’s singles matches.

In the quarter finals, Tai will be up against an old rival, Spain’s Carolina Marin. The two have faced off on 21 occasions, and Tai emerged victorious 11 times. This time around, the top two ranked players in the world, South Korea’s An Se-young and Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi are absent from the competition after sustaining injuries in the Asian Games. So after Marin, Tai’s biggest challenge in the competition will be China’s Chen Yufei.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Companies send technical experts to help Orchid Islanders repair damaged vessels

Two weeks ago, Orchid Island off the coast of Taitung was devastated by Typhoon Koinu. Many houses were severely damaged and more than 70% of boats anchored at the island’s Kaiyuan Port sunk or suffered heavy damage. Technical experts from various companies are now traveling to Orchid Island to inspect the damaged boats. They are also planning to set up a repair center on the island.

A large amount of daily necessities are packed in boxes. Two weeks ago, Typhoon Koinu ravaged Orchid Island, isolating it from Taiwan proper. Fortunately, donations from many kind-hearted people and companies have allowed local residents to take a breather and see light at the end of the tunnel. However, now new difficulties are putting them to the test.

Engine company technical expert
Currently the damage to vessels is quite serious. In particular, their engines have been flooded with water and hull damage is also very serious.

Powerful wind gusts of more than 61.2 meters per second caused more than 70% of vessels in Kaiyuan Port to sink and suffer damages. In just one night, the residents’ money-making tools were completely destroyed. Technicians from various companies have since travelled to Orchid Island to inspect the wrecked boats.

Engine company technical expert
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Lai Kuen-cheng
Former lawmaker
On the island we can set up a temporary base for inspections and repairs. Then we’ll move relevant equipment such as wiring, circuit boards and computer motherboards over to provide assistance.

Repairing the boats is a major engineering project, and residents and technicians are collectively searching for ways to put the boats back in their places as soon as possible, so that Orchid Island residents’ livelihoods are restored. Even though two weeks have passed since Typhoon Koinu, Orchid Island’s reconstruction work continues nonstop, as residents strive to have their normal lives back.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Art teacher founds studio in Taiwan

Today we take you to meet the creator of an art studio that combines art and dining. Cesar Reyes came to Taiwan, where he taught art at an American school.
In 2017, he founded a studio that not only showcases works by talented artists, but also serves food and organizes talks. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met Reyes and Taiwan-based Filipino artist Michael Vincent Manalo, who is exhibiting his works at the studio.

Michael Vincent Manalo explains the series of artworks "Chasing Dreams." This painting was inspired by his art residency in Poland. The painting utilizes augmented reality. After downloading an app and swiping the QR code, the painting is presented on the visitor’s mobile phone through animation or video. This is a new exhibition at The Studio. Manalo is a digital painter and photographer from the Philippines, but he is now based in Taiwan.

Michael Vincent Manalo
Artist
The things that I saw were so different it kind of shook me to the core. I was very shocked because everything was just like what I saw on the magazines or on the Internet. Everything was so different. This represents that I am just a small person seeing something so different from what I used to see. There is always just this glint or beam of hope as represented in the light shining through the trees.

This art studio was created by Cesar Reyes. He grew up in Hawaii and graduated from Wheaton College and Columbia University in New York. After graduation, he worked at Columbia University. In 2005, he moved to Taiwan and started teaching art in Taiwan. In 2017, he began hosting art dinners at his own house, where he invited friends over to have meals and appreciate art. In 2018, after finding a permanent space and redecorating the place, he established The Studio, in hopes of combining his shared passion for art and food.

Cesar Reyes
Art studio cofounder
In 2005, I started to have a vision for how those things might be combined. Teaching at Taipei American School really honing my skills as a teacher, and then in the process of doing all that, realizing there is a space and niche here in Taiwan for art and food. Then, started doing art dinners in about 2017. At the time we were doing the art dinners, I got a lot of feedback saying," This is really good. This is very enjoyable. This is not like a normal type of dinner. It is not like a Michelin type of dinner. It is not a gallery." It is a good combination where conversation emerges. That was one my goals was to create a space that would build conversations about art, about artistic things, and about creative people.

Aside from showcasing the works of talented artists, the space also holds talks and serves a variety of customers. The studio also provides catering.

Cesar Reyes
Art studio cofounder
It ranges from a Taiwanese set menu. Western menu. We also serve Indian food. We have people come in to talk about art and art history. We regularly have dinner related to art. It is called the Artist Open House. We invite people to come and dine as artists and commune together. Both of my cofounder and I really love Taiwan a lot. Such that we want to contribute with a space like this that is unique. Special for artists, and for diners and people who appreciate art in general.

By combining art and food, The Studio hopes to create a platform for talented artists and to also provide art lovers a space to dine and converse about art.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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