Japanese company Asratec has unveiled a working prototype of something many small children have been waiting their whole life for – a real Transformer.
The robot, named the J-deite RIDE, is a four-metre high behemoth capable of folding itself down into a fully-functioning car.
In bipedal “humanoid mode”, J-deite RIDE can walk – albeit slowly – at speeds of up to 100 metres per hour.
At the flick of a switch, the ‘robot control system’ performs the transformation, and it folds down in seconds into an electric car. In this form, it’s capable of speeds of up to 40mph courtesy of a lithium-ion battery pack.
Asratec will show the Transformer off at the wackily-titled DokiDoki Japanese Festival in Manchester, as well as the trade show IAAPA Attractions Expo in Florida in November.
【现实版变形金刚 日本展出新款变形机器人】当地时间4月25日，一款变形机器人“J-deite RIDE”在东京附近的一个工厂揭幕，在仪式上，这个现实版的变形金刚也展示了如何从机器人变身为跑车的过程。变形机器人能在跑车状态下以时速60公里奔驰，还能在10秒内变成步行速度30km/h的机器人。 pic.twitter.com/hj7FaG2ogv
— 中国新闻社 (@CNS1952) April 26, 2018
Creator Kunio Okawara says he intends to sell the car to amusement parks, where he hopes it will inspire a whole array of robotic rides and attractions. The company suggests transforming go-karts or transforming demonstrations at parades.
For now, J-deite RIDE is a concept, but the firm is on the hunt for companies looking to get their name on the side of real-life Transformers.