"ROBO-ONE in the Space" promises low-orbit robot battles

Besides the promised army of nanobots that will fulfill our every want and need, there hasn't been too much about the "future" to get really jazzed up about -- until, that is, we found out about a little event happening on October 10, 2010 called "ROBO-ONE in the Space" (actual title, not a machine translation). From the same enthusiastic folks who bring us the fascinating terrestrial robot battles and posedowns in Tokyo every year, ROBO-ONE in the Space is an ambitious project that was announced at this year's competition, in which the organizers plan to launch a 125,000-cubic centimeter "piggyback satellite" into polar orbit in conjunction with a larger payload-- all for the purpose of robot grudge matches in zero gravity. Although the 10/10/10 date of the premier competition is purely tentative (pending certain non-trivial steps as international approval for the launch and use of certain radio frequencies), the rules already seem to be set in stone: to simulate the sumo-style ring (or sphere, as it were) of play, the four bots sent up as cargo will each be attached to 5-meter long tethers, which will signal that the competitor has been tossed when they become fully taut .Since our brief write-up can in no way do this topic justice, you should definitely check out this animated "artist's conception" of what the battles will look like; we don't use the phrase lightly, but it really is the greatest thing ever.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[andy @ Apr 11th 2006 7:58PM]

anyone remember RobotJox or Crash and Burn? the future is now (nearly)

[Corporate @ Apr 11th 2006 7:59PM]

YES! GUNDAM AT LAST (or something of the sort)!!!

[Deluxe @ Apr 11th 2006 8:00PM]

'Bout time!

[Rob @ Apr 11th 2006 8:01PM]

Why wait until 1010? Get the battlers aboard one of those planes that make weightless parabolic flights.

[Handle IT @ Apr 11th 2006 8:26PM]

My money is on Galvatron!!

[Raymond @ Apr 11th 2006 8:40PM]

Theres no frekin' way. thats more like some mediocre anime plot, theres no way this will actually happen.

[JohnLawr @ Apr 11th 2006 8:49PM]

This is awesome! Someone needs to tell them that they won't get sound effects in space though...

[Joe Jacobs @ Apr 11th 2006 9:14PM]

All we need know is Deathscythe.

[Jason @ Apr 11th 2006 11:08PM]

Holy crap this is sweet!

[Gendreavus @ Apr 12th 2006 12:16AM]

What's the next step, gettting people wirelessly controlling them from the Earth with body suits? Now that will be amazing.

[sanman @ Apr 12th 2006 12:21AM]

You know they're gonna get tangled up in those umbilical cables. Also, their jets will run out of gas real quick, so I guess the match will have to be brief.

[Carlos @ Apr 12th 2006 3:05AM]

Wow, what is next, the WWE in the moon?

http://resumengadget.cjb.net/

[Neil @ Apr 12th 2006 3:30AM]

And on the RED TETHER!!! Weighing in at ONE METRIC TON on earth!!! OPTIMUS PRIME!

What they're really doing is putting giant robots into space to be intercepted by the mothership, where the true technology will be implemented before the attack. I am starting the resistance, who is with me?

[Jamie @ Apr 12th 2006 5:21AM]

There's nothing better than two robots bitch slapping each other in zeroG.

What a wonderful world we live in...

[zanbowser @ Apr 12th 2006 6:12AM]

"Robots! They are everywhere... we have lost control! Mankind's servant... became our master..."

Not that there's anything wrong with that. ^_~

[DTMFreq @ Apr 12th 2006 9:49AM]

Yeah right like the international community is going to allow a bunch of f'ing toys to go into orbit and beat each other up creating space junk as well as a re-entry hazard that could possibly interefere with scientific/defense projects just so a bunch of robot geeks can watch a screen for a light to come on signaling one has "left the sphere". Hmm, no. Stick to your Transformers and Manga fantasies, nerds.

[FTGreen @ Apr 12th 2006 1:28PM]

Man, this is Robo-One. Everyone involved is a Gundam fan. It's all about making UC Gundam a reality. Why doing this before actually making actual 10-ft tall robots? Cus everyone knows Gundams are built for uses in Space. Once this proof-of-concept is done, then it's much easier to persuade governments to develop actual mobile suits for (at first) building of large scale space stations and moon colonies. Outfitting them with lasers swords then it's just matter of time!

Of course this future space race with mobile suits will only be persuited by Asian governemnts, since all those Gundam fanboys are now all engineers and goverment officials. Americans has lost their dream for space conquest so they'll be left on the ground.

For authenticity sake they may end up dropping the satelite on some unsuspecting country unsupportive of a space monarchy...

[FTGreen @ Apr 12th 2006 1:39PM]

DTMFreq: at least slam the right fantasy: it's all about Gundam, not transformers. It's also quite strange for someone who comment on engaget to throw the word nerd around as an insult.

And it's easy to think this is a pipe dream, but most people probably don't know how intensely Japan and China are interested in Space-related technology. China wants a moon colony in 2020; and if their economy keep growing at the same pace they will do it. Japan wants to build large space-stations for the longest time. Both of these projects are staffed by Gundam dreaming engineers and fanboys. Do you think it's too far-fetched to build robotic suits to help with building of these large-scale projects? Only if you're a robot-fearing American I guess. :)

[Lt_Ladle @ Apr 16th 2006 9:59PM]

does anyone else find the video HILARIOUS?

[BaDDoG @ May 4th 2006 4:44AM]

DTMFreq, and Americas farcical defense (see: Star Wars) strategies are any less stupid?

Alot of this planets revenue comes from entertainment vis a vis 1st world, sky tv (sattelites)? hotels? tourists in space? All of this serves no conceivable purpose except for people enjoying themselves. So if you decide to trash japans idea of entertainment thats your problem. Personally i'm more worried about their attitute towards whaling but maybe thats just me.

Besides USA has enough toys up there already, who do you think created all the junk in the first place ;)

[F.Bizzaro @ Jul 19th 2006 8:28AM]

I, for one, welcome our soon to be intergalactic robot overlords.