Japanese and American robot manufacturers will prove their superiority in the best possible way – giant robot duels.
Giant robot fights are a staple of science fiction and anime, not to mention one of the coolest action movie concepts ever imagined. But even with all our scientific advancements, seeing a battle in reality seems highly unlikely. Or at least it did until very recently. Two weeks ago, American robot manufacturer Megabot issued a challenge to Japan-based Suidobashi Heavy Industries: Host a duel between each company’s giant robot. Amazingly, Suidobashi has accepted with one condition – it has to be a melee battle.
“Come on guys, make it cooler,” Suidobashi CEO and founder Kogoro Kurata said in a response video. “Just building something huge and sticking guns on it. It’s Super-American.
“But you know, we really need… Melee combat,” he continued. “If we’re going to win this, I want to punch them to scrap and knock them down to do it.”
Megabot founders Gui Cavalcanti and Matt Oehrlein originally equipped their Mark II model with paintball guns, but Kurata believes melee combat is far more exciting. And while I imagine the repair costs for both sides will be extensive afterwards, I can’t say I disagree with the assessment. The Japanese robot – weighing in at 4000 kg – will face its 5400 kg US contender at some date in the future. But whenever and wherever this battle occurs you can be certain Suidobashi is fighting to win.
“I cannot let another country win this,” Kurata said. “Giant robots are Japanese culture.”
Source: Business Standard
Published: Jul 7, 2015 07:35 pm