Tokyo start-up creates $3m ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ robot that has very specific purpose
Published on Oct 06, 2023 at 2:35 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Oct 06, 2023 at 5:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This giant robot looks like anime icon ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’.
It’s designed to like the character from the 1970s Japanese show of the same name.
Standing at almost 15-feet tall (4.5m), the four-wheeled tank of a robot is priced at $3 million.
READ MORE! Japan is building a massive floating city in the ocean
Tsubame Industries, a start-up based in Tokyo, Japan, developed the giant and named it ARCHAX thanks to its resemblance to archaeopteryx, a bird-like dinosaur.
Developers of the tech plan to unveil the beastly creation at the Japan Mobility Show later this month.
Peek inside the cockpit of the Mobile Suit Gundam replica and there are internal monitors capturing information from the outside world.
This allows the person piloting to use joysticks from within the torso to manipulate the arms in its “robot mode”.
Then, to travel faster it also has a “vehicle mode”, allowing it to travel at speeds of up to 10 km/h (6mph).
“Japan is very good at animation, games, robots and automobiles so I thought it would be great if I could create a product that compressed all these elements into one,” chief executive of Tsubame Industries Ryo Yoshida said.
The inspiration?
“I wanted to create something that says, ‘This is Japan’.”
Ultimately the goal is to build and sell five robots for $3 million with the ambition of keeping Japan competitive in manufacturing.
“I hope to learn from previous generations and carry on the tradition,” he said.
Yoshida began his career welding at his family-run ironworks working alongside his grandfather.
One of his first creations was a pair of myoelectric prosthetic hands that were controlled with electrical signals generated naturally by muscles.
This foray into prosthetics naturally led to a career in robotics.
Now Yoshida has loftier career goals including the space industry or in emergency disaster relief in the future.
Meanwhile, an Indian company plans to send a humanoid robot to space to conduct experiments and replicate human functions before reporting back.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
