Big in Japan: giant Gundam robot makes its first moves in Yokohama

[JollyGood]

As per the Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/23/giant-gundam-robot-japan-makes-its-first-moves-in-yokohama

The life-size Japanese Gundam robot stands just over 18 metres tall and weighs 25 tonnes. Do you think this is just vanity project or do you think this is far more than that because it is part of a multi-billion USD$ and even though the project started 6 years ago fans need a boost because of the deflation they feel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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[Ucy]

Interesting. But I wonder if it is seen as god or something, considering the part about "priest purification of its soon-to-be-installed head"
I assume they build this to showcase the limited things their robot can do, or does it have very useful/good purposes?

[meanwords]

I think it's not in vain but a breakthrough in computer science and engineering. This might serve as a model for future endeavors for computer scientist and engineers as Japan has always been surprising us with their development in robotics (Look at this https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/robots/). Who knows, we might see giant robots roaming the city in 20-50 years in the future lol.

[amishmanish]

Trust the Japanese to make things weird. They are also probably the only ones flawless enough to attempt a real life version of "Pacific Rim" someday. The breakthrough in this case, as the article describes, is ensuring the structural integrity of the various parts with their weight, vertical height and a movable centre of gravity. Anything tall and heavy will always want to touch the ground unless its a rigid structure.

[JollyGood]

Definitely not seen as God like for them but maybe in part a showcase of their skills in technological advances.

Interesting. But I wonder if it is seen as god or something, considering the part about "priest purification of its soon-to-be-installed head"
I assume they build this to showcase the limited things their robot can do, or does it have very useful/good purposes?

[Nellayar]

Gundam: One of my favourite anime in Television when I was a child. I just can`t how Japan made a real-life size robot. It just shows how Japanese love anime and they really utilize their technology. Despite of having a pandemic, they still can create this one. Anyway, Japan already proved to the world that they are advanced in technology and they can create robots which I think in future would become AI robots. Let just think that the anime before can be now in reality. That is really tall and awesome.

Trust the Japanese to make things weird.

They are weird yet they are also inventors.

[Lorence.xD]

I think it's not in vain but a breakthrough in computer science and engineering. This might serve as a model for future endeavors for computer scientist and engineers as Japan has always been surprising us with their development in robotics (Look at this https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/robots/). Who knows, we might see giant robots roaming the city in 20-50 years in the future lol.

The problem that I can see with this is that if it allows full movement then it will be difficult because there is square cube law, the law states that as objects get bigger in size, the volume grows faster than its surface area. This means that a complete motion for the machine (walking, running etc) will affect itself, think how they make skyscrapers. Physics can be a dick but the Gundam will collapse on its own weight if they did not consider square cube law.

[Darkelf11]

I won't considering it as a vanity project. And I won't believe that Japan will do such big project for nothing. This will benefit them in the long run. I view it as Japan's way to attract even more tourist that will boost their economy in the later time. It's not worthless, and I do think that they should really be proud about this one. 

Honestly, I thought this gigantic Gundam is only an statue, I never thought it was a robot.

[Broly46]

How many even watch the anime and deeply understand the story.
So it’s said the population will be wipe out by halves because federal government sparking war with the rebellious.
Many people will die all begin with the project gundam. Btw who’s the pilot for the gundam?

[dothebeats]

This is just Japan doing Japanese things. This isn’t just for show, this is them subtly flaunting their prowess in robotics and engineering that they had been at the top of after WW2. Imagine building a huge robot straight out of an anime show and it ‘functions’ though not as fully as its anime counterpart. What more if they added lots of functionality to it? But then again this is mainly just for tourist attraction. It’ll still generate money over time so it’s still a good investment, I’d say.

[posi]

The life-size Japanese Gundam robot stands just over 18 metres tall and weighs 25 tonnes. Do you think this is just vanity project or do you think this is far more than that because it is part of a multi-billion USD$ and even though the project started 6 years ago fans need a boost because of the deflation they feel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Create a project from an anime to reality is definitely not a vanity project cause no would just waste a billion dollars project just like that but it was created for the enthusiast of the Gundom which I believe the message the teams posted when the giant gundom make his first move proof it.

does it have very useful/good purposes?

I believe it will serve as the company mascot and tourists center for people around the world and the enthusiast of the Gundom anime.

[Ucy]

Interesting. But I wonder if it is seen as god or something, considering the part about "priest purification of its soon-to-be-installed head"
I assume they build this to showcase the limited things their robot can do, or does it have very useful/good purposes?

Definitely not seen as god like for them but maybe in part a showcase of their skills in technological advances.

Ofcourse. But I think such humanoid robot could be worshipped as gods by the ignorant and deceived, if they exhibit "superior behaviors"

Anyway robot with artificial intelligence could be hacked into, hijacked by evil entity who prefer "beings" without conscience/emotion/soul, caused to behave badly due to human error,  etc.
So people really need to be careful with their technology advances in the area autonomous mechanics/machines.
I'd prefer robots operated by good decentralized communities of humans rather than independent AI

[Coyster]

So people really need to be careful with their technology advances in the area autonomous mechanics/machines.

Imo, there's no reason to be paranoid about technological advancements/artificial intelligence, in a few decades from now, products from advancement in tech will become part of our daily lives. That being said, it's also a source of income/economic enrichment, for example the said robot in the op is set to be launched in the opening of the "Gundam factory Yokohama" and that's going to allure tourists from around the world, mainly to see this robot, the engineers who worked on it, would not spend six years doing that, if it wasn't worth it.

Anyway robot with artificial intelligence could be hacked into, hijacked by evil entity who prefer "beings" without conscience/emotion/soul, caused to behave badly due to human error,  etc.

Don't worry, what happened in the movie "Chucky" doesn't happen in real life .

[wxa7115]

As per the Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/23/giant-gundam-robot-japan-makes-its-first-moves-in-yokohama




The life-size Japanese Gundam robot stands just over 18 metres tall and weighs 25 tonnes. Do you think this is just vanity project or do you think this is far more than that because it is part of a multi-billion USD$ and even though the project started 6 years ago fans need a boost because of the deflation they feel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I can understand why some may think this is a vanity project since they cannot see the utility in the short term for something like that, however technological breakthroughs do not happen overnight, most of the time it is a combination of factors, and if we are to ever create functional machines like this in the future then we need to start somewhere and if the interest in an Anime is enough to fuel this then we must be glad.

And even if we are never able to create something like this many things will be learned from this experience and engineers will learn what they can actually do, for example maybe robots of that size are not possible but they could build one half its size, or maybe they find out that humanoid robots are not the best and another shape is necessary to get top performance.

[Twentyonepaylots]

I don't think that there is vanity with this one, I guess this is just right, making the robot that also gave them a multi-billion income. The only thing that is wrong is the timing, but if you are searching enough, you'll know that it started a few years back so making an excuse of insensitivity here just because we are struggling with pandemic is absurd. This is what we get when we enhances our engineering skills. Kudos to Japan.

[JollyGood]

They are showcasing their skills no doubt about that. In the video you can see the robot moving, evening going down on one knee. At just over 18 metres tall and weighing 25 tonnes it really is a mechanical colossus. The team behind it have to be proud of their efforts.

I think it's not in vain but a breakthrough in computer science and engineering. This might serve as a model for future endeavors for computer scientist and engineers as Japan has always been surprising us with their development in robotics (Look at this https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/robots/). Who knows, we might see giant robots roaming the city in 20-50 years in the future lol.

[TravelMug]

The life-size Japanese Gundam robot stands just over 18 metres tall and weighs 25 tonnes. Do you think this is just vanity project or do you think this is far more than that because it is part of a multi-billion USD$ and even though the project started 6 years ago fans need a boost because of the deflation they feel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I guess regardless of the COVID-29 pandemic, it is bound to happen for the Japanese to complete this project and show their supremacy as far as robot goes. Who would forget ASIMO?

And it really sending a subliminal message to the world that they are still leading as far as robots + AI goes. Yeah, the team should be very proud of it and this is already will be etch on the history of Japanese anime as well. Would like to see Voltes-V next though,   because that's my generation of robot.

[scottmdm]

  Awesome Robot

[Salauddin1994]

This is surprising but robots are very helpful in japan's development and economic development japan will go a long way in terms of rapid growth of work and technology it actually brought to the fore an ongoing agricultural revolution in japan. The fields are now being transformed into a single technology center through the use of artificial intelligence the internet and the latest technology.

[Dave1]

Damn, I'm really impressive how far advance the Japanese technology sector, the movement is fluid and it's like a full move scene from Transformers. This is another step, and for sure Japan has been developing far more superior robots for the future.

[meanwords]

The problem that I can see with this is that if it allows full movement then it will be difficult because there is square cube law, the law states that as objects get bigger in size, the volume grows faster than its surface area. This means that a complete motion for the machine (walking, running etc) will affect itself, think how they make skyscrapers. Physics can be a dick but the Gundam will collapse on its own weight if they did not consider square cube law.

I agree. We still can't rule out the various problems that needed to be considered in order to make a replica of a giant robot that functions like a human. Problems will always be there no matter what but remember that humans had proven to overcome them over the years. They are probably considering it given that they are professionals and are probably trying to find a way to solve it.

[TGD]

The problem that I can see with this is that if it allows full movement then it will be difficult because there is square cube law, the law states that as objects get bigger in size, the volume grows faster than its surface area. This means that a complete motion for the machine (walking, running etc) will affect itself, think how they make skyscrapers. Physics can be a dick but the Gundam will collapse on its own weight if they did not consider square cube law.

I agree. We still can't rule out the various problems that needed to be considered in order to make a replica of a giant robot that functions like a human. Problems will always be there no matter what but remember that humans had proven to overcome them over the years. They are probably considering it given that they are professionals and are probably trying to find a way to solve it.

I'm sure that japanese developer and designer are taking in consideration this law because there's a lot of money involved here. There are a lot of lightweight material that can be used for this giant robot to become fully functional. This is a very good progress for human technology.

The only thing it bothers is where they will get the energy to power up this robot and sustain it for a long run? It will needs a tons of energy to burn in able to move this robot, I believe they will need a built-in nuclear reactor on the robot to sustain its power consumption.

[Lorence.xD]

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I'm sure that japanese developer and designer are taking in consideration this law because there's a lot of money involved here. There are a lot of lightweight material that can be used for this giant robot to become fully functional. This is a very good progress for human technology.

The only thing it bothers is where they will get the energy to power up this robot and sustain it for a long run? It will needs a tons of energy to burn in able to move this robot, I believe they will need a built-in nuclear reactor on the robot to sustain its power consumption.

Energy source will not be a problem because in essence the mech is a machine. They can still power it with convential fuels.

If they take that in consideration then they should understand that it will be a difficult endeavor. There is a reason this projects was not considered for a long time. They can easily be destroyed. Lets say that the mech can walk normally, and no problem arises and then someone pushes it, the result will be catastrophic as the mech will not sustain an outside force. There is a reason why skyscrapers do not move and that is square cube law.

Here are some takes about mechs in reddit (they might help but always take the comments with a grain of salt): https://www.reddit.com/r/scifiwriting/comments/ah5njc/are_large_mechs_ever_practical/

[JollyGood]

This is not weird as far as the Japanese are concerned. It could simply be a situation where the giant robot is an extension of their multi-billion dollar Gundam television/movie and merchandise industries. Having said that there is a technological and mechanical advancement here that has never been seen before, a breakthrough as you aptly called it.

Trust the Japanese to make things weird. They are also probably the only ones flawless enough to attempt a real life version of "Pacific Rim" someday. The breakthrough in this case, as the article describes, is ensuring the structural integrity of the various parts with their weight, vertical height and a movable centre of gravity. Anything tall and heavy will always want to touch the ground unless its a rigid structure.

[Yatsan]

Japan has just proven and showcase how it is making use of their resources specifically talking about the advancement of their technology to make such thing to happen to create a 18 meter Gundam that can move. This just shows how advance they are when it comes to computer science and engineering that make it possible for the project to occur. It was really pretty awesome for I am really big fan of Gundam since I was a kid it having this gigantic Gundam is making a child's dreams to do come true. It is really is Japan is raising their flag on this project.

[btc_angela]

The problem that I can see with this is that if it allows full movement then it will be difficult because there is square cube law, the law states that as objects get bigger in size, the volume grows faster than its surface area. This means that a complete motion for the machine (walking, running etc) will affect itself, think how they make skyscrapers. Physics can be a dick but the Gundam will collapse on its own weight if they did not consider square cube law.

I agree. We still can't rule out the various problems that needed to be considered in order to make a replica of a giant robot that functions like a human. Problems will always be there no matter what but remember that humans had proven to overcome them over the years. They are probably considering it given that they are professionals and are probably trying to find a way to solve it.

This is just the first taste though, and that's why there's not that much movement, but this is history for robotic already. Probably in the next generation we will Japan developed the Gundam or the project itself and see a working and functioning robot as big as this one. And with their technology and budget, I'm sure they can overcome those obstacles and create a perfect model, just a matter of time.

[boyptc]

I may not fully memorize all of those Gundam suits but this is entirely part of my childhood. I'd love to go there someday. IIRC, this is the 2nd giant gundam in the country.

I think this is good for their tourist attraction and it's a good project, Japan just turned their one treasure anime into reality. It would be amazing if they allow visitors to get inside the Gundam soon. 

[Johnyz]

This can attract many tourist and that’s why they invested on this because they know people will love this since this is our childhood memories. This is very timely, not that the whole world is suffering because of pandemic we need something else to give us hope and bring back the smile on our faces, I want to see this big Robot next year when olympic begins!

[abhiseshakana]

This can attract many tourist and that’s why they invested on this because they know people will love this since this is our childhood memories. This is very timely, not that the whole world is suffering because of pandemic we need something else to give us hope and bring back the smile on our faces, I want to see this big Robot next year when olympic begins!

This is a form of optimism from Japan that the pandemic will end soon. Japan has developed a strategy of stealing start first, with the Gundam robot it will attract foreign and domestic tourists, which in turn will improve the tourism sector and boost the Japanese economy. Other countries can learn from Japan, not only thinking about overcoming the pandemic but also starting to formulate policies and post-pandemic recovery, so when the pandemic is over, it can immediately take off.

[Lorence.xD]

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This is just the first taste though, and that's why there's not that much movement, but this is history for robotic already. Probably in the next generation we will Japan developed the Gundam or the project itself and see a working and functioning robot as big as this one. And with their technology and budget, I'm sure they can overcome those obstacles and create a perfect model, just a matter of time.

There is no perfect model for giant robots in real life, especially a bipedal one, the first step that this robot will take will collapse the legs because it is like a walking skyscraper, and skyscrapers are built in a way that as it goes higher they make it more smaller than the previous floor. A quadripedal robot will be possible but I do not think that in terms of this one, a real Gundam will not work. We also should consider the terrain, if the ground is too soft then the terrain will collapse and most terrains do not support walking robots. Square Cube Law will destroy this Gundam if it start parading.

The only good thing I can see about this project is the Japanese ingenuity when it comes to robotics and the massive increase in tourism when this exhibit finally opens after the pandemic.

[virasog]

Interesting. But I wonder if it is seen as god or something, considering the part about "priest purification of its soon-to-be-installed head"
I assume they build this to showcase the limited things their robot can do, or does it have very useful/good purposes?

Surely they wont call him god as it is created by the humans. We have seen a lot of these robots in english movies named Transformers and now we are going to see these robots in real world.  It can attract a lot of visitors if placed in public to view this creation.

[JollyGood]

I think the creators would have factored that in when creating the Gundam but it did go on one knee and stood upright afterwards so I would not be concerned about it.

The problem that I can see with this is that if it allows full movement then it will be difficult because there is square cube law, the law states that as objects get bigger in size, the volume grows faster than its surface area. This means that a complete motion for the machine (walking, running etc) will affect itself, think how they make skyscrapers. Physics can be a dick but the Gundam will collapse on its own weight if they did not consider square cube law.

[crwth]

I guess good news like that is good for the morale of the many. I know some people are still working from home due to this pandemic, and they may be lonely or bored and just have no idea what to do, I guess. At least something is being done, and I hope the positivity continues for them.

I have seen the video With the Gundam’s moving its hand and kneeling. It’s pretty awesome and overwhelming for sure. I hope I can see it in real person once this pandemic ends.

This could increase economic activity as well.

[Reid]

This can attract many tourist and that’s why they invested on this because they know people will love this since this is our childhood memories. This is very timely, not that the whole world is suffering because of pandemic we need something else to give us hope and bring back the smile on our faces, I want to see this big Robot next year when olympic begins!

This is a form of optimism from Japan that the pandemic will end soon. Japan has developed a strategy of stealing start first, with the Gundam robot it will attract foreign and domestic tourists, which in turn will improve the tourism sector and boost the Japanese economy. Other countries can learn from Japan, not only thinking about overcoming the pandemic but also starting to formulate policies and post-pandemic recovery, so when the pandemic is over, it can immediately take off.

Yes, no doubt it is the purpose behind the scenes.
I mean, they are already a tourist attraction with their discipline and good food.
They added more spice to it by creating fiction in real life. Damn, that was really good.

I am still awed by how great the vast structure is with its colors and everything.
Then, they made it move?!! Are you kidding me?! Of course I want to see that after this pandemic. 

[FlightyPouch]

Damn, I'm really impressive how far advance the Japanese technology sector, the movement is fluid and it's like a full move scene from Transformers. This is another step, and for sure Japan has been developing far more superior robots for the future.

The thing is that they support these kinds of project, I don't know if that will be the same case in our country or other countries as well. They are known as one of the technologically advanced countries and animes so I guess that is the reason why they also gave the green light to this project. This will be developed and be adapted and I hope people would not put an idea of making this as a military weapon or such.

[JollyGood]

It is very detailed and does look like a large statue but the fact it is a robot truly is remarkable. I agree, it should not be considered a vanity project because there is the possibility of making it a tourists attraction and the whole Gundam fan base is a multi-billion industry to which this giant robot will only add value to.

I won't considering it as a vanity project. And I won't believe that Japan will do such big project for nothing. This will benefit them in the long run. I view it as Japan's way to attract even more tourist that will boost their economy in the later time. It's not worthless, and I do think that they should really be proud about this one. 

Honestly, I thought this gigantic Gundam is only an statue, I never thought it was a robot.

[coolcoinz]

I like that they're pushing the boundaries but don't see a point in making robot walkers like that. Machines built like that don't have the best center of gravity and can easily fall. If they want to make walkers it's best to keep them look more like spiders or crabs. I know that giant knight looking robots have this vibe of power to them but a future when they're widely use in military, expoloration will never come.

[panganib999]

This can attract many tourist and that’s why they invested on this because they know people will love this since this is our childhood memories. This is very timely, not that the whole world is suffering because of pandemic we need something else to give us hope and bring back the smile on our faces, I want to see this big Robot next year when olympic begins!

Surely it will attract more tourist with this exceptional and awesome work of art that Japan has done. This will surely push through lots of Gundam fanatics to get into their country to personally witness this giant Gundam robot that is not just a statues, because this time it is a moving one. Such awesome project which is really worth for the investment they have done. Japan have push through the limitations and breaking another boundary with this project they have done. Most likely you were like in the scene of Gundam series when you were right in front of this giant Gundam robot for sure. I am pretty much sure this is not yet perfect but at least this was a breakthrough and looking forward for a lot more coming from Japan because of this.

[JollyGood]

Are you using a translator to post here? I asked because your post is a paradox because it certainly is incoherent yet can be deciphered enough to be considered preposterous at the same time. Which war with which rebels are you mentioning and which federal government will wipe out half of its population? And exactly how and why will the beginning of the Gundam giant robots be the beginning of many people dying?

You should re-post here again with clarity if you want your point to be understood beyond the paradox I stated above.

How many even watch the anime and deeply understand the story.
So it’s said the population will be wipe out by halves because federal government sparking war with the rebellious.
Many people will die all begin with the project gundam. Btw who’s the pilot for the gundam?

[btc_angela]

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[..snip..]

There is no perfect model for giant robots in real life, especially a bipedal one, the first step that this robot will take will collapse the legs because it is like a walking skyscraper, and skyscrapers are built in a way that as it goes higher they make it more smaller than the previous floor. A quadripedal robot will be possible but I do not think that in terms of this one, a real Gundam will not work. We also should consider the terrain, if the ground is too soft then the terrain will collapse and most terrains do not support walking robots. Square Cube Law will destroy this Gundam if it start parading.

The only good thing I can see about this project is the Japanese ingenuity when it comes to robotics and the massive increase in tourism when this exhibit finally opens after the pandemic.

And development of skyscrapers has also improved in the last 50-100 years isn't it? So base on your arguments about skyscrapers then there should be room for development and improvement as well. And we are talking about Japan here, not just any technological country. Japan has been in the forefront of robotics an they have shown that they can developed a robot, of course the creators have factor that 'square cube law' of yours and obviously will not test on a terrain that is not stable.

[MCobian]

Because in Japan anime and manga are very popular, it's no wonder that one of the Gundam anime characters is made in life size.
I am a Gundam fan from 20 years ago, knowing this news is certainly very happy, even if there is no COVID19 pandemic maybe
I will go to Japan to see it first hand. But for some people who are not anime fans, they would think that making a life size Gundam
is just a waste of money without any benefit. Moreover, in the current economic crisis due to the COVID19 pandemic, there are many
negative opinions regarding the making of this Gundam life size.

[goaldigger]

Because in Japan anime and manga are very popular, it's no wonder that one of the Gundam anime characters is made in life size.
I am a Gundam fan from 20 years ago, knowing this news is certainly very happy, even if there is no COVID19 pandemic maybe
I will go to Japan to see it first hand. But for some people who are not anime fans, they would think that making a life size Gundam
is just a waste of money without any benefit. Moreover, in the current economic crisis due to the COVID19 pandemic, there are many
negative opinions regarding the making of this Gundam life size.

This is the proof that they are more advance when it comes to technology and making such a huge Gundam Robot is so amazing. I do also love anime movies and Gundam is my childhood hero before the marvels. This project started way before the pandemic so there's already a budget for this and I don't know why they are questioning Japan when in fact this country is not that corrupt, I would be more happy to see this in real life as well.

[Wexnident]

It's not simply a vanity project I'll tell you that. Japan is definitely one of the leading countries when it comes to inventing and tech-y stuff, and with the vast amount of culture that they have that's basically related to the development of tech, you'd always expect them to pull something off like this every once in a while. Though it is more for design or just tourist attraction, developments did come from small things like that after all. Hell, at least, it's developing towards amusement and culture, instead of for war weapons or anything of the sort.

Interesting. But I wonder if it is seen as god or something, considering the part about "priest purification of its soon-to-be-installed head"
I assume they build this to showcase the limited things their robot can do, or does it have very useful/good purposes?

Nah, it's probably just part of their culture or something. Every country has their own, like how new houses in our country is being blessed by priests before being used by the owner and their family. Nothing really odd for it. As for the gundam itself, probably showcasing mostly for the part, but you never know how it could be useful for some weird and odd purpose.

[JollyGood]

Calling it a good investment is definitely appropriate in my opinion because in the long run this robot and other Gundam creations will be making financial returns for their creators either as tourist attractions or the technology behind the creation. Also like you said it also showcases the skills of both robotics and engineering advances that the Japanese have excelled at for decades.

This is just Japan doing Japanese things. This isn’t just for show, this is them subtly flaunting their prowess in robotics and engineering that they had been at the top of after WW2. Imagine building a huge robot straight out of an anime show and it ‘functions’ though not as fully as its anime counterpart. What more if they added lots of functionality to it? But then again this is mainly just for tourist attraction. It’ll still generate money over time so it’s still a good investment, I’d say.

[Lorence.xD]

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[..snip..]

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And development of skyscrapers has also improved in the last 50-100 years isn't it? So base on your arguments about skyscrapers then there should be room for development and improvement as well. And we are talking about Japan here, not just any technological country. Japan has been in the forefront of robotics an they have shown that they can developed a robot, of course the creators have factor that 'square cube law' of yours and obviously will not test on a terrain that is not stable.

It doesn't matter whether Japan is the forefront in robotics, that was decades ago. They are now stagnant when it comes to new tech, the new forefront are the Mega cities in China. You all talk as if Japan is the only one who can do this, there are other countries interested in robotics. And my whole point about this statue by comparing it to a skyscraper is by the fact that they are both considered structure and that all things follow the same physics. I am saying that no matter how many decades of improvement in robotics, there is no way that it will function like in the anime, Square Cube Law makes it in a way that when the Gundam walks, the weight will collapse the legs, if it follows a bipedal biomechanic movement for walking then that will mean the foot will be under pressure of the total weight of the Gundam. Regarding stable terrain, the only terrain that it can walk on if it does not collapse is the roads of Japan. Roads are not meant for this type of structure stepping on, it might look stable outside but there are underlying factors why it will collapse on the road. It will leave a big pothole.

The only benefit I can see from this is marketing increases for Gundam franchise, tourism in Japan and Prestige for the creator.

Maybe if the gravity was out of question it can function but that is an expensive endeavor.

By the way that Square Cube Law you are quoting is not mine. It was first observed by Galileo. Try to search it atleast. I am not making up this Law.

[Deddyhoku]

Completely useless projects in our crisis covid days

[wxa7115]

I guess good news like that is good for the morale of the many. I know some people are still working from home due to this pandemic, and they may be lonely or bored and just have no idea what to do, I guess. At least something is being done, and I hope the positivity continues for them.

I have seen the video With the Gundam’s moving its hand and kneeling. It’s pretty awesome and overwhelming for sure. I hope I can see it in real person once this pandemic ends.

This could increase economic activity as well.

It is definitely something to look forward to, the pandemic has taken a hit on everyone not only economically but also on their state of mind and we need to remind everyone that the world is still moving forward despite these difficult times and what better way to do it than with a giant robot which speaks of the brighter future we have in store?

Now that being said the first time I saw the video of the Gundam moving I thought how long it will take for governments to try to get those people to make that robot a weapon?

[JollyGood]

That is part of where they will recoup their investment. The other thing is others will be after their technology so the Japanese engineers will be able to sell on their know-how as well. Either way they will get lots of income from the Gundam.

does it have very useful/good purposes?

I believe it will serve as the company mascot and tourists center for people around the world and the enthusiast of the Gundom anime.

[hulla]

Completely useless projects in our crisis covid days

It good to understand the depth of the crisis caused by the COVID 19 and during this season no company in the world will spend billions of dollars on a project that is completely useless not to talk of the years spent before the project was successfully created. Understand that you know the content of novel just by looking at it. It too early to know the genuine reason for the creation of the giant Gundam but we will understand sooner or later.

[JollyGood]

The launch party was successful (keeping COVID-19 social distancing restrictions aside), there was an audience there...

Surely it will attract more tourist with this exceptional and awesome work of art that Japan has done. This will surely push through lots of Gundam fanatics to get into their country to personally witness this giant Gundam robot that is not just a statues, because this time it is a moving one. Such awesome project which is really worth for the investment they have done. Japan have push through the limitations and breaking another boundary with this project they have done. Most likely you were like in the scene of Gundam series when you were right in front of this giant Gundam robot for sure. I am pretty much sure this is not yet perfect but at least this was a breakthrough and looking forward for a lot more coming from Japan because of this.

[erikoy]

what could they wanted in this structure and how could it bring good to them?

Well in my opinion this could be tourist spot, since Japan had known with these started from drawings to making a video story and now with a real structure then I can say that they want get this structure as trademark for them. I could agree that this structure will be the remembrance of Japan great artist, creations and the likes which they are really good at. I can say Japan people are very imaginative compared to other people around the world.

[pealr12]

One of favorite anime since i was a kid which is gundam wing. I dreamed for it before to see a real giant robot which is already a reality. I want too see that after this pandemic, and for sure a lot of gundam wing fans will also be there.

[RealMalatesta]

I guess it is both a useless project but also not something they are doing for fun neither. They probably have an aim for this in the end, no idea what that goal is but they probably know it, not like they are going to use these in a war setting or something, they would be both useless because there is no more hand to hand battle or whatever, but also if you can shoot them with an automatic rifle you will eventually hit a circuit that will stop it as well, very fragile.

I feel like this can't be for anything bad, nor anything good, it could only be for show and that's about it. However whatever they are thinking while building this, which could be public and I just don't know, it will not be something important neither, you could have used that money to feed starving people and make a better world easier.

[crwth]

Completely useless projects in our crisis covid days

I am pretty sure that it’s been planned well before COVID. Why would they stop their project if it was already budgeted for the year? You should know that they are also taking precautions with the pandemic and not opening their factory.

It is definitely something to look forward to, the pandemic has taken a hit on everyone not only economically but also on their state of mind and we need to remind everyone that the world is still moving forward despite these difficult times and what better way to do it than with a giant robot which speaks of the brighter future we have in store?

As long as we are allowed to go to Japan and be cleared with COVID to visit it, why not? I know I would want to visit it. Soon maybe lol.

Now that being said the first time I saw the video of the Gundam moving I thought how long it will take for governments to try to get those people to make that robot a weapon?

if they can do that, then I'm frightened of what they can do if it becomes that reality. I think it will take a longer time, but it's feasible for that application.

[el kaka22]

Do people really want to go to Japan and see this? I mean if you are already in Japan for a business or even vacation reason you could maybe see this as an extra thing, but how many people would go to Japan just for this? I doubt that number could be huge, it would be very minuscule and considering they have spent billions on this, I doubt that it would recoup the investment.

Obviously you could sell your know how and that is another subject but that is not the reason why anyone would build something for once, that has to be repeat and have to be something you constantly do, if you do it just once how could you have such a huge know how, you did it and it is over, but if you do it multiple times you would know it better and what could happen at the same time as well.

[bakasabo]

Completely useless projects in our crisis covid days

If you would have spent few minutes reading and article and at least opening a https://gundam-factory.net/en/ from there, you would have understood that this is not useless.

This Gundam robot is a part of decoration. If you are saying that it is useless, then all the decoration in Disneyland or Universal Studio theme parks are also useless.

For your knowledge - this Gundam robot will be a decoration part of Gundam dock, that consist of The GUNDAM-LAB is an entertainment complex featuring shops, cafes, communication spaces, and educational exhibitions where you can learn more about how the moving Gundam works!, tower dock - A spectacular viewing space where you can see the moving Gundam up-close from a height of 15 to 18 meters. and other facilities.

[amishmanish]

Watch the giant take a knee in this 4x speed video.. Utility-wise, it is just an attraction for the millions of franchise fans and will surely bring them a lot of cheer. Technology wise, i suppose this is little more than a giant non-standard crane like structure. It must have a lot of high pressure hydraulics for those moving parts. Keeping it stable within its movement envelope would have been the basic design criteria.

Whether this can be a step towards actual development of giant humanoid robots is of course questionable. That kind of a thing would require a far more modular structure. For example, every individual part will have to be self-propelled and powered instead of being a connected system. Like planes flying in formation.

[JollyGood]

There always should be room for improvement regardless of it being skyscrapers or robotics or anything else such as televisions, computers, mobile phones or anything else. There will always be advances, once a product or technological advance has been made it will be improved upon.

There is no perfect model for giant robots in real life, especially a bipedal one, the first step that this robot will take will collapse the legs because it is like a walking skyscraper, and skyscrapers are built in a way that as it goes higher they make it more smaller than the previous floor. A quadripedal robot will be possible but I do not think that in terms of this one, a real Gundam will not work. We also should consider the terrain, if the ground is too soft then the terrain will collapse and most terrains do not support walking robots. Square Cube Law will destroy this Gundam if it start parading.

The only good thing I can see about this project is the Japanese ingenuity when it comes to robotics and the massive increase in tourism when this exhibit finally opens after the pandemic.

And development of skyscrapers has also improved in the last 50-100 years isn't it? So base on your arguments about skyscrapers then there should be room for development and improvement as well. And we are talking about Japan here, not just any technological country. Japan has been in the forefront of robotics an they have shown that they can developed a robot, of course the creators have factor that 'square cube law' of yours and obviously will not test on a terrain that is not stable.

[Kong Hey Pakboy]

It's awe-inspiring that Japan is making the first step of making their country futuristic and using advanced technology. I didn't expect that life-size giant Gundam robot will surprisingly move in their theme park. No one knows what will happen in the future after we defeat the COVID-19 pandemic that we might see more giant robots, in the end, and walks in the city.

[Reid]

The launch party was successful (keeping COVID-19 social distancing restrictions aside), there was an audience there...

~image

Damn, that was really something. I cannot even find the right word to describe it.

For some days, I hope they can also create a mask for Gundam to wear.
Just a reminder to everyone to keep wearing their mask everytime they will go outside their home.
Some teens are irritated wearing a mask, that act may affect those idolizing this figure. 

[wxa7115]

Do people really want to go to Japan and see this? I mean if you are already in Japan for a business or even vacation reason you could maybe see this as an extra thing, but how many people would go to Japan just for this? I doubt that number could be huge, it would be very minuscule and considering they have spent billions on this, I doubt that it would recoup the investment.

Obviously you could sell your know how and that is another subject but that is not the reason why anyone would build something for once, that has to be repeat and have to be something you constantly do, if you do it just once how could you have such a huge know how, you did it and it is over, but if you do it multiple times you would know it better and what could happen at the same time as well.

Well unless you are a hardcore fan then most likely very few people will actually go to Japan just to see the gundam, however now it is an additional tourist spot, after all in what part of the world can you see something like this? Nowhere except there which is one of the main reasons people travel, to see other cultures and their monuments and attractions.

I tried to find how much this cost but I could not find it, however regardless of it I think they can eventually get profits with this not only as a tourist attraction but do not you think that many people will be interested in the knowledge the engineers have amassed during their work? That information is worth a fortune if they know how to exploit it.

[Broly46]

How many even watch 

There is no secret here, Gundam, it’s anime and it’s video games is always revolving around the same set of story, the UC0079 which is also the first anime televised national wide in 1979, rebellious launching wars on federal forces due to a conflict of interests, it’s also a part of the story of Gundam from the very beginning. Despite it’s oxymoron to correlate the outcome of an anime to the real life, but who are we to judge there won’t have to repeat the same set of tragic in future?

And yeah the first ever Gundam appeared in the first ever anime is this one the white cubic coloured gundam shown in the picture.

Btw I could conclude nobody ever try to remember the story from the gundam since they are usually full of text to read from, most just indulge into the stunning robot fighting scene.

[JollyGood]

Maybe people can make home-made Gundam masks while they COVID-19 issue remains ongoing 

Damn, that was really something. I cannot even find the right word to describe it.

For some days, I hope they can also create a mask for Gundam to wear.
Just a reminder to everyone to keep wearing their mask everytime they will go outside their home.
Some teens are irritated wearing a mask, that act may affect those idolizing this figure. 

[Shasha80]

Japan always amazes me, it's not easy to make a Gundam life size, and I'm sure the cost of making this giant Gundam robot is very expensive.
But since this project was 6 years ago, I'm sure the budget is already available. So with the COVID-19 pandemic, the making of the giant robot
Gundam can be completed. I agree that making Gundam life size is a long-term investment, it will attract tourists to come. At least for now in
the COVID-19 pandemic situation, local tourists come first. This will benefit the Japanese government and the creators of the Gundam.

[JollyGood]

The length of time to complete the project has to be considered when looking at the mammoth task. The sheer effort to go in to making the Gundam has to be commended.

Japan always amazes me, it's not easy to make a Gundam life size, and I'm sure the cost of making this giant Gundam robot is very expensive.
But since this project was 6 years ago, I'm sure the budget is already available. So with the COVID-19 pandemic, the making of the giant robot
Gundam can be completed. I agree that making Gundam life size is a long-term investment, it will attract tourists to come. At least for now in
the COVID-19 pandemic situation, local tourists come first. This will benefit the Japanese government and the creators of the Gundam.

[pixie85]

Japan always amazes me, it's not easy to make a Gundam life size, and I'm sure the cost of making this giant Gundam robot is very expensive.
But since this project was 6 years ago, I'm sure the budget is already available. So with the COVID-19 pandemic, the making of the giant robot
Gundam can be completed. I agree that making Gundam life size is a long-term investment, it will attract tourists to come. At least for now in
the COVID-19 pandemic situation, local tourists come first. This will benefit the Japanese government and the creators of the Gundam.

They were fascinated with machines and making these robot battles for a long time.

Some of them can be pretty funny like this one if you haven't seen it yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HGTkK4Ambc

I support their effort because we should keep breaking boundaries and making things that were never made before.

[hatshepsut93]

The life-size Japanese Gundam robot stands just over 18 metres tall and weighs 25 tonnes. Do you think this is just vanity project or do you think this is far more than that because it is part of a multi-billion USD$ and even though the project started 6 years ago fans need a boost because of the deflation they feel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This isn't a vanity project or "a morale booster" in times of deflation and pandemic, this is just a big advertising for the Gundam franchise, simple as that. Now the whole world knows that Japan made a big robot, and some people across the world will take an interest and start watching anime, and maybe some of them will even start buying merchandise. So, in the long run it should be profitable for the company who made it.