Got a spare $1.4 million laying around and want to know what it’s like to ride in a robot? Well, have I got the toy for you. Kuratas is a ride-able and user-operated robot built by the Japanese company Suidobashi Heavy Industry. In an era where Transformers and Mech warriors are all the rage comes your fully customisable, 13 foot tall, 4.5 tonne Anime wet dream. It can also drive at speeds of about 10km an hour due to the diesel engine that powers the beast. Now I know what you’re thinking, how on earth would you get that through customs but it could actually have some practical uses in modern society… Right?
Presuming that the military wouldn’t have you locked up for riding round town in one of these babies, you can jump in the cockpit and get comfy for the ride or control it from a mobile phone! The Kuratas have characteristics that wouldn’t be out of place in a battle field including a machine gun (only loaded with BB’s) and a rocket launcher (for fireworks apparently). It also has a claw like arm and hand with humanoid fingers capable of picking up things and a 30-joint exoskeleton for a full range of movement and if you want it pink, they can do that for you too.
Created in 2012, Kogoro Kurata designed the Mech more as an art piece than for actual battle, satisfying his own need for a giant robot that he dreamt of as a child. Robotics researcher Wataru Yoshizaki gave him a hand with the weaponry. So what can we do with it?
Firstly I thought it would be awesome as nightclub or pub security. Would having one of these standing on the doorway of your venue prevent those pesky ego fueled encounters? I can imagine it would make anyone think twice especially with the 6,000 round-per-minute BB Gatling guns that are controlled with the pilot’s smile; part of Yoshizaki’s V-Shido (read like bushido, as in “way of the samurai”) control system coming at them. Insert evil laugh here.
Or maybe it could be used to look after children? I think they would be so awestruck that their little jaws would drop in submission. A real life Mech Warrior robot as a babysitter. You could fill the rocket launchers with water and set up a slippery slide. Hours of fun. Or, actually go play a real game of good guys and bad guys and clean up the streets like your favorite superhero.
I’m sure with a little bit of imagination we could come up with many weird and wonderful ways to use this type of machine, but just don’t smile too much while you’re in it, we wouldn’t want the BB guns going off to readily. Oh and if you want a cup holder, just pop and extra hundred bucks onto the price. May as well.
Why not customize yours today – http://suidobashijuko.jp/#bto
C.Reynolds
