Japanese engineers have unveiled a robot that transforms into a car that can actually carry people on board, in what developers claim is a world-first.
The 3.7-metre (12.1-feet)-tall two seater robot ‘J-deite RIDE’ can transform into a sports car in a process that takes about a minute.
It can walk at 18.6mph (30 km/h) or run on its four wheels but developers say they’ve never really tested it outside the factory cargo bay area.
Japanese engineers have unveiled a robot that transforms into a car that can actually carry people on board, in what developers claim is a world-first
The 3.7-metre (12.1-feet)-tall two-seater robot ‘J-deite RIDE’ can transform into a sportscar in a process that takes about a minute
As a car, it measures 4 metres (13 feet) long and 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) high.
During the transformation the car seats and hood lift up and the robot’s head appears, writes Asahi.
Two people, including a driver, can fit into the ‘cockpit’ but the machine can also be controlled wirelessly.
In the video they are seen waving at the camera as the transformation takes place.
Tokyo-based CEO of Brave Robotics, Kenji Ishida, said he was motivated by his childhood transformer heroes in anime movies.
‘The robots I’ve seen in animation movies since childhood all had this kind of look and they transform into or combined with each other to become something else with people on board,’ Mr Ishida said.
‘So I grew up believing that robots had to be capable of such things, which became my motivation to develop this robot.’
Transformers (pictured) is a series of American science fiction action films which inspired Kenji Ishida to make his machine
It can technically walk at 30 km/h (18.6 mph) or run on its four wheels but developers said they’ve never really tested it outside the factory cargo bay area
As a car it measures 4 metres (13 feet) long and 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) high. During the transformation the car seats and hood lift up and the robot’s head appears
Two people, including a driver, can fit into the ‘cockpit’ but the machine can also be controlled wirelessly. In the video they are seen waving at the camera as the transformation takes place
CEO of Brave Robotics, Kenji Ishida, said he was motivated by his childhood transformer heroes in anime movies
He initiated the project with Asratec, an affiliate of the Japanese mobile phone giant SoftBank, and a roller coaster manufacturer Sansei Technologies.
While admitting that it may seem like an expensive toy, Mr Ishida said the robot is an attempt to inspire others and broaden the human imagination.
Developers said they will begin with utilising the technology in entertainment industry, such as amusement park and street parades.
Mr Ishida initiated the project with Asratec, an affiliate of the Japanese mobile phone giant SoftBank, and a roller coaster manufacturer Sansei Technologies
While admitting that it may seem like an expensive toy, Mr Ishida said the robot is an attempt to inspire others and broaden the human imagination
The company has spent three years developing the machine. Mr Ishida built the first version back in 2015.
At the time, developers said they hoped it would be ready last year.
The first prototype, which weighed 77lbs (35kg), was unveiled at the annual Digital Content Expo in Tokyo on 23 October 2014.
It is powered by something called ‘V-Sido OS’, software designed by creator Wataru Yoshizaki to allow anyone to control humanoid robots.
Developers said they will begin with utilising the technology in entertainment industry, such as amusement park and street parades
The company has spent three years developing machine. Mr Ishida built the first version back in 2015. At the time, developers said they hoped it would be ready last year
The first prototype, which weighed 77lbs (35kg), was unveiled at the annual Digital Content Expo in Tokyo on 23 October 2014