Society | Apr 27

SoftBank-led trio develop robot that can transform into car

Apr 27 (Japan Times) - A SoftBank Group Corp. subsidiary and two other firms have developed a prototype of a two-seat humanoid robot that can transform into a car for use in amusement parks, the companies said Thursday.

Invoking the heroes from the “Transformers” movies, the experimental J-deite Ride can go from humanoid mode to vehicle mode in about a minute.

The 3.7-meter, 1.6-ton robot can lumber on two legs at an agonizingly slow pace of 100 meters per hour but go 60 kph in vehicle mode. The electric car can be driven both manually and by remote control, according to a press release from the companies.

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