JUNE 26 (Reuters) — Japan’s No.3 mobile carrier SoftBank Group Corp, Brave Robotics Inc, and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy showed off their new transformer prototype last week at the annual toy fair.
The companies, including SoftBank owned Asratec Corp, displayed two models of the transformer robots, one miniature at 26.5 cm (10.4 in) tall and 0.75 kg (1.65 lb), and another at a taller and heavier 1.3 m (51.18 in) and 35 kg (77.16 lb). Appearing on stage, the larger of the two robots was controlled by staff using a steering wheel. Audiences cheered as the toy car turned into a robot.
The Chief Executive Officer of Brave Robotics, Kenji Ishida, says they are aiming to develop a larger model which can be used as a vehicle.
“With the goal of 2017, we are aiming to develop a robot 3.5 metres tall, about the size of a small car, which will turn into a humanoid robot,” Ishida told Reuters.
Following the entrance of the large prototype called the ‘quarter-size’, the diminutive version also wooed audiences when it turned from a mini-car to a humanoid robot. This one was a twentieth of the actual transformer robot they hope to build in two years time.
Neither prototype is expected to go on sale any time soon but the developers say they hope to allow people to dream of a future of transformer robots.
“Cars are already an icon, and them changing into a robot which children also like, is a catchy thing,” said 24-year-old Junpei Ishizaki, a visitor at the expo.
