Giant robots have long been a staple of movies like Transformers and video games like Titanfall. Despite the advanced state of artificial intelligence and robotics technology today, there hasn’t been a product of such enormous proportions available. Until now, that is. Leveraging the power of advancing technology, Tsubame Industries, a Japanese startup, has introduced ARCHAX, a 4.5-meter-tall (14.8-foot) four-wheeled robot with a price tag of $3 million.
In today’s world, if you have enough financial resources, you can acquire almost anything, and the list of available items keeps growing. The latest addition to this list is ARCHAX, often likened to the “Transformers” robot, developed by Japanese startup Tsubame Industries. ARCHAX boasts a cockpit equipped with monitors that display images captured by cameras placed on the robot’s exterior. This setup allows users to sit safely inside the cockpit and engage in battles against their “evil” adversaries.
The robot’s pilot employs joysticks to control its arms and hands. ARCHAX has two modes: an upright “robot mode” and a “vehicle mode” that enables it to travel at speeds of up to 10 kilometers per hour. Currently, ARCHAX is available for purchase at a price of $3 million. Tsubame Industries plans to produce and sell five of these machines. However, Ryo Yoshida, the CEO of Tsubame Industries, has also expressed hope that the robot could eventually find utility in disaster relief efforts or within the space industry.
Of course, owning an ARCHAX robot doesn’t resolve all potential challenges. Depending on your country’s regulations, taking this wheeled robot into public spaces may pose legal issues. Nonetheless, for someone who has invested $3 million in a new robot, such concerns might not weigh heavily. After all, if Optimus Prime could navigate such issues, it’s reasonable to assume that ARCHAX can too.
Setting humor aside, it’s still early to predict precisely how the robot will be employed in the future. However, its development suggests that human-piloted robots are becoming increasingly viable, and they may have a significant impact on society in the coming years. While it may seem like an expensive novelty for now, who knows? Perhaps one day, we’ll witness giant robots performing genuine superhero feats and engaging in epic battles.
