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Japan startup unveils 15-foot robot suit for space exploration
Summary
A Japanese startup has unveiled a 4.5-metre-tall (15-foot) robot suit that looks like the popular animation character "Mobile Suit Gundam" from the 1970s television show. The $3 million Archax robot has two modes, a "robot mode" for upright use and a "vehicle mode" for travel up to 10 km (6 miles) per hour. The company plans to build and sell five of the machines for wealthy robot fans, and hopes that the robot could be used for space exploration and disaster relief in the future. The company is one of several startups working on robotic exoskeletons for military and logistics applications.
Q&As
What is the size and cost of the robot suit developed by Tsubame Industries?
The robot suit developed by Tsubame Industries is 4.5 metres tall (14.8 feet) and costs $3 million (£2.5m).
What are the applications of the robot suit?
The applications of the robot suit include space exploration, emergency situations, assisting delivery workers with heavy loads, and military “super soldier” suits.
What is the background of Tsubame Industries' CEO?
The CEO of Tsubame Industries is 25-year-old Ryo Yoshida. He became interested in manufacturing at an early age, learning how to weld at his grandfather’s ironworks and then going on to found a company that produces myoelectric prosthetic hands.
How does the robot suit work?
The robot suit has cockpit monitors that receive images from cameras hooked up to the exterior so that the pilot can manoeuvre the arms and hands with joysticks from inside its torso.
What other types of robotic exoskeletons are currently being developed?
Other types of robotic exoskeletons currently being developed include those by the US military, which claim to offer Marines the strength and ability of up to 10 troops, and those by Sarcos Robotics, which are designed to provide troops with an edge by boosting their capabilities and dramatically improving safety and productivity in a variety of logistics applications.
AI Comments
👍 This is an amazing invention that will revolutionize the space exploration and disaster relief industry!
👎 This is an incredibly expensive piece of technology that may be beyond the reach of many people.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about a Japanese startup that has unveiled a 15-foot robot suit for space exploration, which they hope to use for disaster relief or in the space industry. It costs $3 million and looks like a character from "Mobile Suit Gundam".
Friend: Wow, that's pretty cool! It sounds like a great idea for space exploration and disaster relief, but it's also quite expensive.
Me: Absolutely. It's exciting to think that technology might be able to enable us to explore space and help in emergency situations, but it's also worrying because of the potential for companies to use it for military applications. It's also concerning that it could be too expensive for most people to access.
Action items
- Research other startups working on robotic exoskeletons and their applications.
- Learn more about the US military's exoskeleton prototypes and their capabilities.
- Join the commenting forum to engage in thought-provoking conversations about the article and related topics.
Technical terms
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- A Japanese animation series from the 1970s.
- Archax robot
- A 3.5-ton robot suit created by Tokyo-based start-up Tsubame Industries.
- Cockpit monitors
- Monitors inside the robot's torso that receive images from cameras hooked up to the exterior.
- Joysticks
- Controllers used to manoeuvre the arms and hands of the robot.
- Robot mode
- An upright mode for the robot.
- Vehicle mode
- A mode in which the robot can travel up to 10 km (6 miles) per hour.
- Myoelectric prosthetic hands
- Prosthetic hands that are controlled by electrical signals from the user's muscles.
- Exoskeletons
- Robotic suits that can be used to assist with heavy loads or to enhance the capabilities of troops.