VOTOMS statue creator only began taking orders for mobile
Kuratas 1 month ago
View promotion videos: HERE
Kōgorō Kurata, the creator of the hydraulic 4-meter, 4-ton
rideable robot Kuratas, told Shueisha's Weekly Playboy News website that he
received over 3,000 orders for the robot since he began taking orders about a
month ago. This is despite the price tag of 108,025,812 yen or US$1.3535
million.
Kuratas added that he has been overwhelmed by media
inquiries from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, China, and
other countries.
Kōgorō Kurata is an iron craftsman who is best known for
building a life-size VOTOMS statue. Despite the robot's appearance and
presentation, it is still considered an "art piece" according to the
official promotional videos.
The robot uses Wataru Yoshizaki's robotic control software
V-Sido (a homonym for "bushido") to move around. With Yoshizaki's
help, Kurata has been developing the robot since January of 2010.
Suidobashi Heavy Industry KURATAS
'Another step closer to building an actual Gundam in the future'
A Japanese electronics company has unveiled a 13ft super-robot which can be controlled by an iPhone.
But be careful with the jokes if you are on the phone to the pilot as the robot, made by Suidobashi Heavy Industry in Tokyo, brings a whole new meaning to ‘trigger-happy’.
'Kuratas' is fitted with a futuristic weapons system, including a gatling gun capable of shooting 6,000 BB bullets a minute, which fires when the pilot smiles.
Kuratas, made by Suidobashi Heavy Industry, can be controlled either through the one-man cockpit or from the outside using any smartphone connected to the 3G network.
The robot, which is set will go on sale for £900,000 ($1.4 Million USD), has around 30 hydraulic joints which the pilot moves using motion control.
As it is made to order the style conscious buyer will not have to worry about sticking to the grey exterior - it comes in 16 colours, including black and pink, and for an extra £60 they will sort you out with a cup holder.
Engineers Wataru Yoshizaki and Kogoro Kurata
were saluted in front of Kuratas together with their pilot Anna when they
showcased the robot at the Wonder Festival in Chiba, suburban Tokyo earlier
today.
The team have been working on the robot since
2010.