Japan, Technology, Robotics, Anime, LSD...

[The Mad Monk]

Try as I might, I just can't make title worthy of this:

FRIDAY, DEC 3 2004
Toyoto i-foot and i-unit

filed under RobotsWhat was I saying about the Japanese being just like us? I don't remember—I must have been too busy staring slack-jawed at these new robots unveiled today by Toyota. I guess technically they aren't robots, but mechanized mobility suits. The one of the left is called 'i-foot,' and is designed to help the disabled to get around and to climb up stairs, while the two on the right are called 'i-unit.' If I'm not mistaken, i-unit has two modes, one that puts the rider more upright, while the other is in an inclined position that looks more suitable for high speed maneuvers. All three prototypes will be displayed at an exposition in Aichi next year.

Thank you, Toyota. I was afraid there for a while Japan had stopped being suitably weird. More pictures after the jump. (Thanks, Paul!)

Press Release [Toyota]

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/robots/toyoto-ifoot-and-iunit-026866.php

[pchang]

We just need to add machine guns and armor to the i-foot and we have our first mech warrior

[DRoseDARs]

I think a few weeks back we already had a thread on this exact same set of mechas and yes, they were stupid then too. The Japanese need to stop. They're going to hurt themselves if they keep this foolishness up...

[FrostyBoy]

I like the one you lie down in, it could be used on the road easily, put some seats on the back and you can take other people. It's great for people who live in condensed big cities; you can just jump in your i-unit, zoom down to the local mall, pick up what you want and zoom back home, no problems.

The rest are too big and clumsy.

The left one may enable the disability, but it disables the ability of others around these machines.

[MarkG]

yes, add a machine gun and you're ready for the US market

[The Mad Monk]

That spot at the top of the walker would be perfect for a frikken' laser beam.

[laurentius]

2 months late....another one who has me on ignore-list

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=126545

[The Mad Monk]

That is so two months ago.

My thread is prettier.

[alva]

I've got a rather strange link for an Japanese robot-like massage machine, alas I can't post it here.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by alva
I've got a rather strange link for an Japanese robot-like massage machine, alas I can't post it here.

Can it do sushi too?

[DaShi]

Teh people inside those machines are also robots.

[chequita guevara]

GE (or was it GM) alread has a unit like the 2nd. I saw it at DisneyWorld last year. It's not as slick and polished, but it's the same thing. It even has internal gyros which allow it to go up on two wheels. It was frikkin amazing.

[The diplomat]

I still wish we could see a military version with a machine gun and rocket launchers. That'd be so cool to see!

[:) Smiley]

Say, how's the guy who's building a mecha in Alaska doing?

[Kidlicious]

First the Japanese have to prepare their own society for robots. Then they use the robots to dominate the world economically forcing the world to buy their robots to compete.