Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Long-awaited, giant 60-foot-tall Gundam robot is officially unveiled in Japan

The construction of the largest robot in the world is finally completed! The Gundam robot, a perfect full-scale moving replica of Mobile Suit Gundam Model RX-78F00, the series premiered in the late 70s, is now moving.

Built by the Japanese engineers in the Port of Yokohama, the giant Gundam robot is 18 meters high and weighs 25 tons. It walks, kneels, moves its arms, articulates its fingers. The giant robot is located inside the “Gundam Factory,” an exhibition area dedicated to the character and whose inauguration was postponed due to COVID-19.

A life-size Gundam robot has been undergoing testing, preparing for the opening of a theme park to celebrate the iconic Japanese anime’s 40th anniversary. It will be the centerpiece of Gundam Factory, a tourist attraction that is scheduled to open its doors on December 19 in Yokohama Port.

A few months ago, the first test was carried out where the robot – which at that time was missing its head – moved its lower limbs and raised its knee as if it were going to take a step. Now fully built, it has taken the first step. However, it remains to be seen whether the robot will be able to move semi-autonomously without the need for base support.

It is built on a mobile steel frame and a carbon resin exterior. The robot, including the head, will weigh around 25 tons and have 24 degrees of freedom, which means it should be able to walk pretty much anywhere. A single hand, from the fingertips to the wrist, measures almost six feet.

The Gundam robot project was originally announced in 2014 under the name Gundam Global Challenge. Over time, it has been modified to the current model, which we hope to see walking freely through the Gundam Factory amusement park soon.