Toshiba shows four-legged robot to help in radiated areas with Fukushima nuclear disaster

Nov. 21, 2012: Toshiba's nuclear inspection robot walks on a stage during a demonstration at a Toshiba factory in Yokohama, west of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

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Nov. 21, 2012: Toshiba's nuclear inspection robot breaks down as its staff look on during a demonstration at a Toshiba factory. It had to be lifted by several people and rebooted. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Nov. 21, 2012: Toshiba's nuclear Inspection robot climbs stairs during a demonstration at a Toshiba factory in Yokohama, west of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Toshiba Corp.'s four-legged robot is designed to help at the meltdown-crippled Japanese nuclear plant, climbing over debris and venturing into radiated areas off-limits to human workers.

But the machine took a jerky misstep during a demonstration to reporters Wednesday, froze with its leg up in the air, and had to be lifted by several people and rebooted.

Tokyo Electric Power Co., the utility that operates Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, said it was considering using the robot to look at a highly radiated part of the plant called the suppression chamber.

No human worker has been able to go there after the March 11, 2011 tsunami disaster that set off meltdowns and explosions at Fukushima Dai-ichi.

Toshiba, which also makes reactors, said it was ready to go if TEPCO gives a go-ahead.