Transformers: Japan unveils car that morphs into robot

[Nergal]

 

WHILE it may not have the speed of Optimus Prime, the J-deite RIDE can boast being world’s first real Transformer capable of carrying people on board.

The prototype was developed by engineers in Japan and can go from ‘vehicle mode’ to standing up at 3.7m in ‘humanoid mode’ in about one minute.

The robot can walk on its feet, but you’d better hope you don’t need to be anywhere soon – it can only walk at a speed of 100m per hour.

Kenji Ishida, chief executive of Brave Robotics, who helped build the bot in conjunction with Asratec, said he was inspired by the original Transformerscartoons he used to watch as a child.

“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.”

The developers hope their creation will inspire others to push the boundaries of robotics, admitting it may not be the cheapest toy on the market.

“I don’t think it’s for nothing because new potentials are imaginable when these things actually become visible,” Mr Ishida said.

The J-deite RIDE’s technology will likely end up being used in the entertainment industry, potentially at amusement parks or street festivals.