U.S. vs. Japan Part II: Giant robots set to duel
Story highlightsAmerican robotics company MegaBots throws down a giant robot gauntletJapanese firm Suidobashi accepts challenge, suggests "melee combat"Date and battleground yet to be decided, but MegaBots suggest a year to make necessary preparationsWith these fighting words, a new, robo-martial space race era was born. U.S.-based robotics company MegaBots issued the challenge late last month, as it put the finishing touches to its Mark 2 model, "America's first fully-functional, giant piloted robot."
At six tons and controlled by two pilots, the Mark 2 fires 3-pound paint cannonballs at speeds of over 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers an hour). The company plans to create a futuristic sports league where the giant robots batter each other into submission.
The Kuratas, named after its designer and launched in 2012, way ahead of MegaBots' Mark 2, weighs a little less that its American counterpart at 4.5 tons and features (presumably nonlethal) Gatling guns, controlled by an advanced targeting system and a full heads-up display (HUD).
Long robot historyReferring to a rich -- if fictional -- history of giant robots, or "mecha" as they are known in Japan, Kurata explained that the country's pride was at stake. "We can't let another country win this," he said. "Giant robots are Japanese culture."
Piloted robots have been a staple of Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), for decades in Japan and feature household names like "Gundam" and "Evangelion."
The phenomenon then spread to popular culture abroad with cartoons like "Voltron" -- originally from Japan but a hit in the U.S. -- and movies such as 2013's "Pacific Rim."
Kurata clearly feels that there is a patriotic element at stake -- and has a way to ensure Kuratas' dominance.
He suggests that robo-primacy would only emerge if the two robots were able to slug it out in "melee combat."
"I want to punch them to scrap and knock them down to do it," Kurata said.
No venue or date for the epic fight has been set, but there will be no shortage of sci-fi fans who will be interested.
And if they want to recreate the battle themselves? They better have deep pockets. A "starter kit" for Suidobashi's Kuratas is listed on Amazon's Japanese site. It's currently unavailable but has previously been priced at �120,000,000 ($978,000).
http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_technology/~3/XQlC2aBgnOg/index.html
At six tons and controlled by two pilots, the Mark 2 fires 3-pound paint cannonballs at speeds of over 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers an hour). The company plans to create a futuristic sports league where the giant robots batter each other into submission.
The Kuratas, named after its designer and launched in 2012, way ahead of MegaBots' Mark 2, weighs a little less that its American counterpart at 4.5 tons and features (presumably nonlethal) Gatling guns, controlled by an advanced targeting system and a full heads-up display (HUD).
Long robot historyReferring to a rich -- if fictional -- history of giant robots, or "mecha" as they are known in Japan, Kurata explained that the country's pride was at stake. "We can't let another country win this," he said. "Giant robots are Japanese culture."
Piloted robots have been a staple of Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), for decades in Japan and feature household names like "Gundam" and "Evangelion."
The phenomenon then spread to popular culture abroad with cartoons like "Voltron" -- originally from Japan but a hit in the U.S. -- and movies such as 2013's "Pacific Rim."
Kurata clearly feels that there is a patriotic element at stake -- and has a way to ensure Kuratas' dominance.
He suggests that robo-primacy would only emerge if the two robots were able to slug it out in "melee combat."
"I want to punch them to scrap and knock them down to do it," Kurata said.
No venue or date for the epic fight has been set, but there will be no shortage of sci-fi fans who will be interested.
And if they want to recreate the battle themselves? They better have deep pockets. A "starter kit" for Suidobashi's Kuratas is listed on Amazon's Japanese site. It's currently unavailable but has previously been priced at �120,000,000 ($978,000).
http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_technology/~3/XQlC2aBgnOg/index.html
