Gizmodo: Gundam

Strange Japanese… Thing… Does… Something

Adam Frucci — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

I'm not entirely sure what this thing is. Here's what I know: it's from Japan, it has something to do with Gundam, it's called Haro, it's got a split personality, and it perkily yells things at you in Japanese. Other than that, I'm at a loss. Anyone want to cue me in to just what this little orange guy is supposed to be or do? [Impress]

Robo-One Robot Street Fighter: Actual Robot Chicken Beats Metal Ass, But Where's the Beef?

matt buchanan — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Twice a year Japan holds the Robo-One championships, which is like Street Fighter for robots. The most awesome one by far is Leghorn, a robot chicken (hell yes) that beats down other tin cans with its "Chicken Chop." But is that really all they've got? One of the dudes said it's all about making robot battles from anime a reality, so um, where the hell are the lasers and finger missiles? Or even, buzzsaws, smashers and bashers like Battlebots? I mean, someone went so far as to calculate how to make real-life Gundam, so I know they can do better. Next time, I want explosions and robot gore. [Reuters via Gridskipper]

Muscle Robot Suit Makes Most Powerful Carpenters Since Jesus

matt buchanan — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:57:06 EST

While we're all about powered exoskeletons to accelerate soldiers' badassery, Japan builds them for stuff like carpentry. Apparently the suckiest aspect of the job is fitting in ceiling boards, which requires a lot of raw power in an unnatural body position, since it's all done over-the-head. Nagoya University's robot suit basically makes their arms like Jax from Mortal Kombat, so they can toss 'em up there, slam in the screws and be done without breaking a sweat. I wanna wear a robot suit to work. [Physorg via The Raw Feed]

How Much Would it Cost to Make a Life-Size Working Gundam?

Sean Fallon — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:00:02 EST

A full-scale Gundam robot is one thing, but how much would it actually cost to build one that could actually walk? According to an estimate published on the SciencePortal website run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the total cost for parts alone would be $725,000,000. That figure would not include labor, fancy weaponry, or any flying capabilities. The whole shebang would be powered by and IBM Blue Gene supercomputer and 30 giant 400KW motors.

Taking a look at the materials list, I have a hard time believing that this would actually work if it were built. And, in all likelihood, the parts would cost significantly more than the estimates. So, it appears that Gundam fans will have to wait a little while longer to get their own 60 foot robot killing machine.

[Science Portal via Pink Tentacle]

Tokyo National University Begins Anime Graduate Program, Otaku Applicants Surge Overnight

dango — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:43:46 EST

Starting next year, the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts will have something that's long overdue for an otaku-rich country: a two-year graduate degree in anime production—the first for a non-private institution in Japan. Courses will be taught by full-time professionals from the anime world including Koji Yamamura, and students will leave with two or three full-fledged works under their belt. We're jealous, but we think we might hold out for the Ph. D. in Gundam Suit fabrication studies. One day. [Yomiuri Shimbun]

Gundam Air Ionizer Freshens Room, Saves Humanity

Jason Chen — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:10:47 EDT

Banpresto's releasing 7 odd Gundam-styled accessories next month, but the most interesting one is this Gundam USB Ionizer. It's shaped like the "White Base", white apparently looks like a lion lazily stretching itself after an afternoon nap. We're not sure which parts of the Gundam takes in the air and which part excretes it with slightly more ionization, but it's probably those jets on the legs. Oh, and there's also a USB hub in there that looks like some kind of explosive box, but that's slightly less cool than a friggin space lion. [Akihabara News via Sci Fi Tech via Everything USB]

Japan Gets a Zaku 2-Style Helmet Phone from Sharp and Softbank

AddyDugdale — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:58:50 EDT

This must be the only cell phone I can think of whose charger is larger than the phone itself. Sharp and Softbank's charmingly-titled 913SH Full Face is a slider (closed, its looks give more than a nod to the iPhone, IMHO) which comes with an enormous Zaku 2 helmet that you stand the phone on to admire, charge, admire and charge. We thought you might like a gallery to brighten up your Monday.

The 913SH Full Face homepage takes a bit of time to launch, and there's only about seven seconds of explosive phone action, but it's worth a look. [Softbank via Gizmodo Japan]

Japanese Bureaucrats Busted for Editing Gundam Wikipedia Entries on the Job

Matt Buchanan — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:45:03 EDT

Six Japanese government drones in the Agriculture Ministry were given a verbal wag of the finger for dumping hours of worktime into editing Wikipedia, with one guy racking up over 260 contributions to Gundam-related entries. Speaking for the ministry on the matter, an official commented that "the Agriculture Ministry is not in charge of Gundam." (No joke.) Yeah, that would be the Ministry of Giant Robots. (Joke. Maybe.) [Yahoo!/AP, Flickr]

Gundam Helmet is not for Keeping your Golf Clubs in

AddyDugdale — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:00:46 EDT

Another day, another helmet. But this one is awesome. It wasn't stolen from a Giant Panda, neither would it look better on your butt. No, this is a bike lid that looks like our favorite robot. Available in Japan, there's a price on Gundam's head and another image after the jump.

The MS-06S Zaku costs 23,800 ($205) and it's on sale now. [LaLaBitMarket via ToysRevil'sILikeToys]

$1,690 Gundam Shirt Teases Us With Vomit

Mark Wilson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:55:28 EDT

These days, wearing a giant robot on your shirt just isn't enough to be ostracized from the party. Step up your game with the the Swarovski crystal hand-stitched Gundam tee. Not only is it a worthy homage to your favorite battle robot, but to Swarovski-covered tech everywhere. (On a side note, when will manufacturers tire of the same old, cover it in crystal method of making gadgets more expensive. How about just manufacturing more amazing tech?)

So just how much is too much to spend on geek fashion? I'd wager $1,690 is, at minimum, a starting point for the discussion. [plasticbamboo]

Gundam IP Phone Turns Calls Into Epic Space Battles

kthompson — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:15:00 EDT

Some kids grow up wanting to be firefighters and ballerinas, but most grow up wanting to pilot giant robotic killing machines. Since we aren't living in the future just yet, you'll have to satisfy your fantasies with this Gundam IP phone. The headset and software are pretty standard fare, but it also comes with a GUI that puts you in the cockpit of an armored suit while you're making calls. If that doesn't give you the confidence you need to tackle those sales calls, nothing will. Available August 31 for about $45.
[Gundam IP Phone via Akihabara News]

Gundam Skull Speakers

Brian Lam — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:04:52 EDT

Harvested from the rusted out corpses of Gundam suits that died with valor in suborbital space combat. Powered by two AA batteries and the drool of thousands of Otaku nerdypants Robot lovers. –Brian Lam

Gundam Speakers [via Technabob]

Haro Gundam Mac Mini Case

Jason Chen — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:30:34 EDT

If you've been a Giz reader long enough, you'd remember the Gundam Haro case for mini PCs. Well, Bandai (or whoever made this) has retrofitted it for Mac minis as well. The case itself is actually more impressive in motion than it is in still shots, extending out its "ears," "legs," arms, and lighting up its arms, all while shouting annoyingly in Japanese. We suppose that's what the character's known for in the Gundam universe?

It'd actually be a pretty nice case if it weren't for the annoying animations and all that shouting. Guess it's only for Gundam fans.

Check out the video after the jump.

– Jason Chen

Talking PC Case [Nexus404 via Technabob via Uber Gizmo]

Life-sized Gundam Wakes Up, Destroys Enemies, Takes a Nap?

Addy Dugdale — Wed, 16 May 2007 07:46:11 EDT

If you are planning to go on vacation this July and you like huge robots (of the anime variety, not LG product ninja skinjobs), get a ticket to Japan, visit the Fuji entertainment park and get drunk with sake!

OK, so that last part is my plan anyway, but you can't miss this 59-feet full 1:1 scale Gundam at the Gundam Crisis attraction at Fujikyu Highland. If I am right at deciphering the power-ring-translated japanese, you will be part of the "Gundam power rise team" in charge of collecting the "Gundam data" and power it up. Whatever that means, it sounds like fun. – Jesus Diaz

Gundam Crisis Attraction (in Japanese) [Fujikyu via Impress Robot Watch]

Platinum Gundam Protects Very Small Countries

Jason Chen — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:45:00 EDT

Mounting cardboard boxes on our arms, legs, and head and running pretending we were Gundam is much easier these days since we get so many packages in the mail (FedEx/UPS Gundam ftw). But a Gundam made of platinum is pretty outrageous even for Japan.

This $250,000 figurine was made by Takara Tomy and will go on a world tour—no armed guards necessary cause it's a frickin' Gundam—before going back to sit on some shelf in Japan. What's the point of this? Nothing other than to raise awareness of the Gundam brand. Mission accomplished. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Bandai via Pink Tentacle via Tokyo Mango]

Gundam Razor Defends Earth While Making You Presentable

Jason Chen — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:15:49 EST

Although there's no real benefit to having a Gundam razor as opposed to, say, a non-Gundam razor, you'll still feel safe using a razor sanctioned by a 50-foot Japanese defense robot. Then again, actual Gundam pilots are only 13 years old, which means these haven't actually been tested on real human beings. Wait, did we just confuse Gundam with real life? Uh oh. – Jason Chen

The Mobile Suit Razor [Japan Probe via Kotaku]

Japan's Makes Maid Robot That Surprisingly Looks like Gundam, Not a Sexy Lady

Jason Chen — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:45:38 EST

If you imagined Japan's roboticists making a robot that pours tea and washes dishes, you'd imagine some kind of sexy maid with a short skirt and gigantic knockers. Well, you'd be wrong. The University of Tokyo went in the complete opposite direction and made a robot that looks like a Gundam.

Pretty interesting choice, seeing as these robots are designed to help seniors with household chores as they grow older and become unable to care for themselves. As Japan's population shifts to the late life, researchers are picking up the pace and developing robots to care for them when they retire. Perhaps when you think about it, designing a robot that looks like it can fight may be useful if they ever need to add security and self defense functions later. Not so great for the "companion" functions though. – Jason Chen

Japan mixes robotics with tea time [Yahoo News via Spluch]

Remote Controlled Gundam Robot Walks Better Than Stephen Hawking

Jason Chen — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:45:41 EDT

GUNDAM!! Who hasn't watched a Gundam cartoon and wished they were 13 years old and piloting one of these huge mechs? Here's the next, next, next, next best thing to that. The remote controlled Gunwalker robot lets you walk the guy in "true two leg walking action" by using the "Magna Traction System".

How does this space-age technology work? Electro-magnets in the soles "communicates timing to the system so one foot remains planted on the combat field". In regular-speak, that means this guy shouldn't fall down when you're walking him around your dining room table. Plus, he comes with a gun, a bigger gun, a knife, a little man to step on, and a bright red cyclopean eye. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Kyosho via Kyosho]

Domi Arigato, Mr Roboto: The Mother of all Gundams

Brian Lam — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:45:29 EDT

Kotaku reports that, in the Land of the Rising Tentacle Porn, they've built a 7-meter tall Gundam. And it only took them 10 months to construct, complete with hydraulic pistons. One of them supposedly located in its
crotch (which i hear needs lots of lube.) The controls are naturally tucked away in a cockpit, which is big enough to fit any Otaku Man-child.–James Lee

The Mother of All Gundams [Kotaku]

Human-Sized 1/12 Scale Gundam RX-78-2: Giant Toy Robot, Not Yet Big Enough to Pilot

Brian Lam — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 13:10:32 EDT

Twisted sister-site Kotaku reports on this 5-foot tall fully articulating Gumdam ~~sex doll for the missus~~ action figure. Designed for "men in their 20's to 40's" it costs $3000, weighs 77 pounds, includes a ginormous black gun, 14 moving parts, and an infrared remote.– Brian Lam

1/12 Scale Gundam RX-78-2 [ Insert Credit via Kotaku ]