Robotics

Real-life Transformer changes from robot to car and back again

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Is it a robot? Is it a car? Yes, and yes again …
Is it a robot? Is it a car? Yes, and yes again …
A sketch of RIDE in robot mode
A sketch of RIDE in vehicle mode
J-deite RIDE will appear on May 5 at the wonderfully-named GoldenWeek DOKIDOKI Festa All Working Cars Assemble! in Tokyo
RIDE in vehicle mode
J-deite RIDE will appear on May 5 at the wonderfully-named GoldenWeek DOKIDOKI Festa All Working Cars Assemble! in Tokyo
RIDE has been designed and developed by Brave Robotics, masterminds of its impressive (if unhurried) transforming mechanism
RIDE in vehicle mode
The dream of owning an automotive automaton is now a step closer thanks the the J-deite RIDE
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There are a few different things people look for in a car. Some look for high performance. Others favor fuel economy. And some just want it to transform into a 4-meter (13-foot) robot. In a surprising turn of events for the last camp, the dream of owning an automotive automaton is now a step closer thanks the the J-deite RIDE — a car that turns into a robot and back again, just like those Autobots from that Transformers cartoon. Except slower.

And did we mention it can transform with two people inside it? It can. Look:

RIDE has been designed and developed by Brave Robotics, masterminds of its impressive (if unhurried) transforming mechanism. The company worked alongside robotics software outfit Asratec, responsible for the robot's software controls. Named V-Sido, these controls cover both robotic and vehicular motion as well as the transformation itself.

It was developed with the help of mechanical designer Kunio Okawawara, who's known for his mecha designs for Mobile Suit Gundam among many other anime.

RIDE was developed in conjunction with Sansei Technologies, which plans to develop the technology for amusement park rides. The current model can be "sponsored" (or hired, basically) for exhibitions, events and what have you.

J-deite RIDE will appear on May 5 at the wonderfully-named GoldenWeek DOKIDOKI Festa All Working Cars Assemble! in Tokyo. It will also appear at Florida's IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 in November.

It's all tremendous fun, but one doubts the Decepticons will be losing much sleep. However, our major takeaway is that Florida really needs to up its Expo naming game if it's going to catch up with Tokyo.

There are more videos of RIDE in action on the J-deite website, but here's one of it taking a walk – also very slowly.

Source: J-deite

View gallery - 9 images
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3 comments
ArnaudDemuyt
Looks really cool and would enjoy riding one in an amusement park. It does seem to turn into a robot really slowly but I'm sure they can work on that. My only problem is how slow the robot seems to be moving, even if it looks awesome, as well as the fact that looking at the huge amounts of leg swaying to lift and lower the leg, the people in the robot must be bumping around quite a bit.
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really cool. At first I thought it was mannequins inside till I saw them move and wave. That must be really neat to be inside when it transforms.
ljaques
Attempts to make RealSteel, Pacific Rim warriors, and Transformers are just =pitiful=. Why is this crap even considered news? Hell, my old grandmother was faster than -any- of those things.