Japan startup unveils 15-foot robot suit for space

exploration
Engineers in Japan have created a 3.5-ton robot suit that resembles a
character from a hugely popular animation series, which they hope to use for
space exploration and in emergency situations.

Tokyo-based start-up Tsubame Industries developed the 4.5-metre-tall (14.8-

feet), four-wheeled Archax robot that looks like “Mobile Suit Gundam” from
the 1970s Japanese show of the same name.

Named after the avian dinosaur archaeopteryx, the $3 million (£2.5m) robot
has cockpit monitors that receive images from cameras hooked up to the
exterior so that the pilot can manoeuvre the arms and hands with joysticks
from inside its torso.

The robot, which will be unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show later this month,
has two modes: the upright ‘robot mode’ and a ‘vehicle mode’ in which it can
travel up to 10 km (6 miles) per hour.

“Japan is very good at animation, games, robots and automobiles so I thought

it would be great if I could create a product that compressed all these
elements into one,” said Ryo Yoshida, the 25-year-old chief executive of
Tsubame Industries.

“I wanted to create something that says, ‘This is Japan’.”

Mr Yoshida plans to build and sell five of the machines for the well-heeled
robot fan, but hopes the robot could one day be used for disaster relief or in
the space industry.

Mr Yoshida became interested in manufacturing at an early age, learning how

to weld at his grandfather’s ironworks and then going on to found a company
that produces myoelectric prosthetic hands. He said he is eager to keep
Japan’s competitive edge in manufacturing alive.

“I hope to learn from previous generations and carry on the tradition,” he said.

Tsubame Industries is one of several startups working on robotic exoskeletons,

with applications ranging from assisting delivery workers with heavy loads, to
military “super soldier” suits.
The US military has already unveiled several exoskeleton prototypes, with one
such device claiming to offer Marines the strength and ability of up to 10
troops.

“The ultimate goal is to provide troops with an edge by boosting their

capabilities and dramatically improving safety and productivity in a variety of
logistics applications,” the company behind it, Sarcos Robotics, said in 2020.

Additional reporting from agencies.

Q&A
1. What's the robot suit name for space exploration? Rei

• It is named after the Avian dinosaur, Archaeopteryx. It's cost about 3 million.
(ARCHAX)

2. What are the robot parts? Nat

• It has cameras hooked up to the exterior, it also have arm and hands with
joysticks from

Inside its torso.

3. Who is the creator of this robot suit? Lee

• From Tsubome Industries (Japan)

4. How tall & heavy is this robot? Rei

• 4.5 metres tall or 14.8 feet tall. It weighs 3.5 ton as well.

5. What is the goal of this robot in space? Livia

• The ultimate goal is to provide troops to boost their capabilities. It can

conveniently and efficiently improve space travel, they can move easily and
increase chances to finding in space.
6. What is the development of this robot? Livi

• Yoshida (CEO) plant plans to well-heeled robot fan, but hopes the robot

for the w build and sell 5 of the machines could one day be used for

disaster relief or in the space industries.

7. When was this robot developed? Livi

• It was on Oct, 2nd.

8. How does the Archax robot named after the archaeopteryx and resembling

"Mobile suit Gundam function"? Nat

•The robot allows the pilot to see through outside cameras and control arms
and Control arms and hands from the cockpit using joystick controllers, the
vehicle mode with a top speed of 10km per hour.

9. What is the this purpose of robot suit? Lee

•It's for space exploration or for an emergency situation.

10. What is Ryo Yoshida plans for the future? Rei

• He plans to build and sell five of these machine and can be used in Space
industries