Six wacky gadgets from the Japan Mobility Show 2023
- The Japan Mobility Show opens to the public from 27 October to 5 November
- It is packed with quirky tech as well as automotive innovation
- This tech ranges from the practical to the fun and the downright unbelievable
Published on Dec 28, 2023 at 3:42 PM (UTC+4)
by Tobias Waters
Last updated on Dec 28, 2023 at 8:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The Japan Mobility Show is back in Tokyo after a four year hiatus.
And, as well as the automotive innovation you’d expect, it’s packed with all the futuristic tech, robots and videogame-icons you’ve been craving.
YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE GROUNDBREAKING GADGETS IN ACTION BELOW:
Japan Mobility Show opens to the public from 27 October to 5 November.
In addition to giant robots and futuristic flying cars, here’s our whistle-stop tour of some of the more quirky tech at the the Japan Mobility Show 2023.
READ MORE! The Japanese make some of the craziest concept cars
1. Pac-Man Kart
A crossover between Namco and Funve offers a mixed reality experience that puts you directly in the Pac-Man maze.
Sitting in a go-kart, you wear VR goggles that show you the maze outline and dots for you to gobble up.
But you still have to be wary of ghosts – when you’re caught, your kart will even spin around!
With plenty of exciting gaming updates in the pipeline – this is taking it to a whole new level.
2. A robotics slam dunk
When you think of basketball heroes, you might think of Jordan, Pippin, LeBron, or Shaq.
You’re probably not thinking about a robot.
CUE3 has been developed by Toyota.
The humanoid robot accurately scores free throws one after another.
It even set the Guinness World Record for most consecutively sunk free throws with a total of 2020.
3. Exo-llent outfit
Skeletonics is an exoskeleton suit.
It gives the wearer the unique experience of being a nine-foot tall robot straight from a Power Rangers or Masked Rider show.
Despite its size, it is smooth, flexible, and easy to operate.
It also relies on the wearer’s kinetic energy to move, requiring no external electricity.
4. No waiting around
Developed by SoftBank Robotics, Servi is a food service robot.
The little gizmo helps restaurants, hotels and bars deliver customers their orders quickly and efficiently.
It uses light detection and ranging (LIDAR) to navigate its environment, returns to its start position when it is done – and it’s pretty adorable.
5. Robot rescue
With earthquakes and typhoons being common in Japan, effective disaster relief is essential.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has developed the Robust Humanoid Platform, Kaleido to help.
It provides rescue and recovery efforts in situations that normal humans would find difficult.
It’s able to lift 60kg, is extremely durable and made with industrial grade materials.
6. Man or motor?
Man-machine interfaces are a common stable of Japanese science fiction.
And Yamaha are bringing it one step closer to reality with the MOTOROiD2.
The next-gen motorbike can recognise its owner.knowing when to lift its kickstand and when it is being wheeled, rather than ridden.
Yamaha have also gone to some length to make it seem like when you are riding it, you are riding on a person’s back.
This makes the MOTOROiD2 feel more like a buddy than a vehicle.
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Based in Tokyo, Tobias has been a writer and editor for a decade, writing on topics ranging from major IPOs to comic books, from self-driving cars to Japan’s first CBD beer. When left to his own devices, he can be found playing videogames or watching movies on said devices. He thinks the underwater episode of Bojack Horseman is the best in the series and you can’t change his mind.
