Giant $2.75 million Japanese robot can transform and has a cockpit inside its body

ARCHAX is a real-life 4.5-meter-tall mechanical robot created by Japanese company Tsubame Industry that can be yours for the low price of 400 million yen ($2.75 million).

If you're a fan of watching the anime Gundunda and playing video games like Armored Core or Titanfall, you've probably imagined yourself piloting a giant mech at least once in your life.

And now, thanks to a Japanese company called Tsubame Industry , that dream can become a reality. If you can afford it, of course.

The Japanese startup recently introduced its latest product, called 'ARCHAX,' a controllable robot inspired by Japanese mechanical culture.

Standing at a whopping 4.5 metres tall and weighing around 3.5 tonnes, this real-life machine is powered by a 300V battery and can switch from standing to driving mode, reaching a top speed of 10km/h. However, to experience the thrill of driving an ARCHAX, you will have to shell out around 400 million yen ($2.75 million) to own it.

ARCHAX is a humanoid robot that can be controlled in the real world and transforms like an Autobot. It is 4.5 meters tall and has a cockpit for humans to control inside.

ARCHAX – a name inspired by the name of the flying dinosaur Archaeopteryx  – was recently introduced in a series of videos posted by Tsubame Industry, and the Japanese startup has announced that a working version will be introduced at the Japan Mobility Show 2023 in November.

As for when the giant robot will hit the market, a Tsubame spokesperson said the product is expected to be available in about a year. However, given the high price tag, the company is targeting wealthy foreign billionaires as potential customers.

The main frame of the ARCHAX is made of iron and aluminum alloy, while the outer shell is mainly made of FRP (fiber reinforced plastic). Although the robot's head appears to have a large camera, it is only for show.

In fact, the ARCHAX operator will be able to see the surroundings through 26 different cameras mounted all over the robot's body, which will be fed into several screens inside the cockpit. The robot's control panel is said to be similar to that of a construction machine, consisting of two joysticks, some pedals, and a touchscreen. Interestingly, the ARCHAX can also be controlled remotely.

ARCHAX weighs around 3.5 tons, much heavier than a Ford F-150 truck. Its structure is made of iron and aluminum alloy, while the outer shell is made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). The robot can be operated with the help of two joysticks, three large screens and various pedals inside the cockpit, and there are a total of 26 cameras to help with navigation.

In standby mode, the ARCHAX can move at a speed of 2 km/h, and in drive mode, that speed increases to 10 km/h. In reality, this giant robot can't soar through the air like in the video games, but moving at a slow speed is still better than just standing still.

ARCHAX can tilt forward up to 20 degrees in standing mode and 30 degrees in riding mode to ensure it does not tip over. If these values ​​are exceeded, the system will shut down to prevent serious accidents.

ARCHAX also has five movable fingers on each mechanical arm and it can grasp a variety of things, but the weight of the object will be limited to 15 kg for safety reasons. Trying to lift anything heavier could cause the robot to tip over, putting the operator inside at risk.

In humanoid form, this robot will have four legs, each leg is attached with a wheel to help it move. However, the highlight of this giant machine is its ability to transform. With just the touch of a button, the operator can easily increase or decrease the robot's wheelbase.

In fact, this is not the first giant robot made by Japan, but it will certainly be one of the most expensive giant robots ever produced on our planet. With a price tag of 2.75 million USD (more than 65 billion VND), this robot can certainly only be owned by billionaires who are passionate about Japanese comic and video game culture.

The project to build a replica of Gundam RX-78-2 began in 2014 and took six years to complete. Standing 18 meters tall and weighing 25 tons, the robot is assembled from 200 parts made of a mixture of steel and carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Jun Narita, chief engineer of the project's design department, said the production team had to carefully select the appropriate material to make the robot as light as possible. If made entirely of steel, the robot's hands alone would weigh up to 0.5 tons - too heavy to move because the knee joints could not bear the robot's weight.