Earlier this year we brought you video of this life size 13-foot, 4-ton Mech robot. Now we have several high quality stills and some new information on this amazing piece of high-tech machinery. It was built over the course of 3 years by a blacksmith named Kogoro Kurata, and it only cost him $1.4 million to build. Kurata named the robot Kuratas after himself. Not only does the Mech robot look cool, but it also works!
When I was a kid, I thought there were going to be giant robots in the future. But no matter how long I waited, people were only able to make small robots, like Asimo. Eventually, I thought ‘I can’t wait anymore,’ and set out to make one myself.
As you can see the Mech was inspired by the 1980s anime series Votoms, according to The Verge, "he initially got noticed for building a life-sized steel model of one of the program’s Armored Troopers. His next project was a natural extension."
I made Kuratas wondering ‘what would it be like if this thing actually moved?
To help make his dream a reality, Kurata brought on a second year doctoral student named Wataru Yoshizaki, who developed the V-Sido software that powers the robot’s 30 hydraulic actuators. "He's also responsible for its multiple onboard weapons systems (like the smile-activated BB gatling gun), requisite iPhone connectivity, and a robotic hand that’s controlled with what looks like a Nintendo Power Glove."
As you can see in this collection of photos the Mech turned out incredibly badass! He only made it for people to ride in and have fun with. Not for any kind of military purposes. He's also ok with never getting the money he put into it back. Check out the rest of the photos below!
