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Gundam Robots

 

  LIFE-SIZED GUNDAM ROBOT TAKES ITS FIRST STEP IN JAPAN

 

Gundam fans around the world were in for a surprise after a factory in Japan created a 60 feet tall, life-size version of the hit anime character. Anime fans of the iconic Gundam were overwhelmed with this news. Some fans could not believe that the Gundam could move just like they had watched in the animated version. Some asked when will Japan weaponize the mecha, “How long until they weaponize it?”

 

This Gundam in Yokohama is Japan's second full-scale RX-78. The first stood at Tokyo's Odaiba district before being replaced by the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. 

 


INSPIRATION:

The Gundam robot has been inspired from the anime Mobile Suit Gundam Series developed by animator, Yoshuyuki Tomino(The Father of Gundam and now The Director of this project) and is a very popular anime and manga series in Japan. Gundam robot—the popular fictional robot appears in some 50 TV Series and Movies since 1979, not to mention a slew of video games and manga.

 

LAUNCH:

On October 1, 2020, Gundam Factory Yokohama will debut this 60-foot tall humanoid robot Gundam. A video that was released, toured the place where the construction of the robot is taking place. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it looks like construction on the robot is still on schedule.

 

FEATURES:

l  Height: 60 feet

l  Weight: 24 tons(approx.)

l  Material: Mixture of steel and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, aluminium.

l  Pieces: More than 200

l  Size of limbs: 6.5 feet each weighing about 440 pounds

 

DETAILS:

The plan is for the robot to have a steel frame and carbon resin exterior and be powered by electric actuators, achieving “Gundam-like movement” with its 24 degrees of freedom, including the ability to walk. The robot will rely on Asratec’s V-Sido operating system, which will be used to generate motion.

The University of Tokyo’s JSK Lab, one of the partners in the project has developed a Gundam simulator that researchers can use to explore different behaviours for the robot.

Apparently, the robot is coupled to a mobile support system (“Gundam Carrier”) that can move the robot in and out of the docking infrastructure, and perhaps provide power and support while the robot takes a step or two backwards and forwards, but it’s really not at all clear at this point how it’s all supposed to work. And it looks that when the robot does move, it’ll be remote controlled.

The robot is being developed using the open-source Robot Operating System(ROS) and Gazebo simulation software, and the team is releasing a full-scale virtual copy of the robot that aspiring programmers can play with to develop their own actions and poses. This includes accurate representations of the motors, gears and sensors used on the actual machine, so, in theory, a fan-made set of actions could be uploaded to the real robot at some point in future.

PROGRESS:

The humanoid was supposed to be completed and become the centrepiece of Gundam factory, south of Tokyo, on 1st October, but it got late due to the virus pandemic. Also,

l  Till now the robot can lift up its leg and rotates its massive torso.

l  It can move its hands and show a peace sign.

l  Once finished, the robot will feature an incredible 24 degrees of freedom, meaning this thing will be able to walk.

Well, whether or not this colossal 60-foot-tall Japanese robot was making a political statement or simply stretching its legs isn't exactly clear, but witnessing the Gundam Factory Yokohama's ultra-cool creation taking a knee to test out its articulation will surely be a sight to behold.

As the Gundam goes through the test runs before making it's first public performance, it would be a great sight for the Gundam fans to see there fantasy robot walk and move in real life.

 

 

 

 

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