Toy Worth 4 Billion Won Each Debuts... "Can Transform from Robot to Car"

4 Years Dedicated to Robot Development... Created 5 Major Robots
Can Also Be Controlled by Riding in the Cockpit

The Gundam, once seen only in animated films, has been realized in reality rather than fantasy. You can climb into the cockpit of a robot standing 4.5 meters tall and weighing 3.5 tons, and control it to perform desired movements. The robot can also transform into a car and freely move to any desired location.

On the 30th (local time), technology media The Verge reported on the large robot 'Tsubame Archax' developed by the robot startup Tsubame Industry, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. This robot was recently showcased at the 'Japan Mobility Show' held in Japan.

The Gundam, which was only seen in animated cartoons, has been realized in reality, not just imagination. You can climb into the cockpit of a robot that stands 4.5 meters tall and weighs 3.5 tons, and control it to perform desired movements. The robot can also transform into a car and freely move to any place you want.
[Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

Tsubame Industry spent four years developing this robot. As a result, they produced five units and plan to sell each for $3 million (approximately 4 billion KRW).

This robot is a kind of transformer, easily switching between robot mode and vehicle mode. It can change from a four-legged robot to a wheeled car. By opening the hatch at the front of the robot and entering inside, one can sit inside and directly control it.

The robot’s four legs are equipped with tires and move by electric motors. In vehicle mode, the four legs extend outward to lower the body and can move at a maximum speed of 10 km/h. When switched to robot mode, it transforms into a Gundam standing 4.5 meters tall.

The process of climbing into the cockpit is also similar to Gundam. When the pilot presses a switch on the lower left side of the robot from outside, four hatches move respectively, allowing entry into the internal cockpit. The Tsubame Archax was inspired by the Gundam series.

The Practicality of Robot Technology Is Still Far Off

Although this robot costs as much as 4 billion KRW, its practical use is still a long way off. Currently, it can lift objects weighing up to about 20 kg, but precise work is difficult.

The basic controls consist of a pair of joysticks to control the arms and a touch panel that allows the pilot to change lighting and modes. Additionally, two pedals control the robot’s movements. The right pedal moves forward and backward to control forward and reverse speeds, while the left pedal moves side to side to turn the robot.

The cockpit is completely sealed like Gundam. The pilot can see the world through footage captured by 26 wide-angle cameras installed throughout the robot. This footage is displayed simultaneously on three displays surrounding the pilot.

The process of boarding the cockpit is also similar to Gundam. When the pilot presses the switch on the lower left side of the robot from outside, four hatches move individually, allowing entry into the internal cockpit. Tsubame Akax was created inspired by the Gundam series.
[Photo by EPA·Yonhap News]

Ryo Yoshida, CEO of Tsubame Industry, said, "I wanted to fulfill my childhood dream of boarding and controlling a robot like in science fiction movies, which is why I took on the challenge of developing the Tsubame Archax."

He added, "Like in the animation series 'Gundam,' gathering multiple robots together to play shooting games with toy guns could be one of the fun ways to use them."

Tsubame Industry is also envisioning more practical roles for this robot, such as cleaning up debris after disasters or working at construction sites. The ultimate goal is not just to build robots but to develop a system that integrates human pilots and machines.

CEO Ryo stated, "I want pilots not only to board the robot but to feel as if they have become the robot themselves, as if they have become a gigantic being."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.