New legs, Japan, new legs!

There are already a number of bipedal or bipedal-like bots, exoskeletons, suits, assists, and devices, but Atsuo Takanishi's team at Waseda University, in conjunction with Japanese robot superpower tmsuk, unveiled their new WL-16RIII walkbot. We know they'd be a huge boon to the handicapped, elderly, lazy, and anime-obsessed the world over, but seriously, could you imagine actually walking into a grocery store or a job interview with this thing? We can, and if they cruised into the Engadget offices we'd just be all, "You're hired."

[SubGenius @ Apr 26th 2006 10:14AM]

"Look Ma! No legs!"

[Karl Viklund @ Apr 26th 2006 10:17AM]

Hahaha nice! I want that thing. Just obf of the coolest robot I ever seen :D

[aeo @ Apr 26th 2006 10:33AM]

It's got the cool factor and all but honestly, if they get it to the point where someone who actually can't walk better on their own can mount the thing AND it can climb stairs (IE - can tackle more difficult terrain than a wheel-chair) then maybe it'll be a success. Until then, I'm going to have to vote NO on this invention.

[Gridlock @ Apr 26th 2006 10:36AM]

Props on the Lieutenant Dan quote

[Hoffy @ Apr 26th 2006 10:53AM]

Is it just me or does the dude driving that thing look like a robot himself?

[Stephen @ Apr 26th 2006 11:59AM]

Not ready for prime time yet, IMO, but something that could inspire geniuses the world over.

[unreal mccoy @ Apr 26th 2006 12:14PM]

Another step toward Mech warfare!

The destruction of our future will be so cool! w00t!

[o0adam0o @ Apr 26th 2006 12:39PM]

*Pweew!* *Pweew-Pweew!* (Starwars laser being shot)

[Nate @ Apr 26th 2006 12:41PM]

Let's not forget the fact that there's (what looks like) a power cord coming off of that beastie. Fat load of good it'll do unless it's got an internal power supply.

[(another) Jon @ Apr 26th 2006 1:08PM]

I for one...ah, fuck it.

[deviate @ Apr 26th 2006 1:12PM]

Fat good this thing will do. No internal power, poor mechanics anytime you want to climb a stair, probably slow as you-know-what.

F for design.
F for effort.

[js @ Apr 26th 2006 1:32PM]

I have a better idea. GET AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR.

What a waste of money.

[wink @ Apr 26th 2006 1:39PM]

forget the legs... how do i get a job at engadget?

[Steelwurm @ Apr 26th 2006 1:56PM]

Has humanity learned nothing from 'Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers'?

[Dhiram @ Apr 26th 2006 2:53PM]

Video of the WL-16RIII walkbot in action
http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/sayonara_segway_the_wl-16riii_walkbot_is_here.php

[joeyo @ Apr 26th 2006 2:58PM]

Gotta love the tether leading off the frame... I guess it's not running on batteries yet!

[rolfo87 @ Apr 26th 2006 3:19PM]

unreal mccoy...we are on the same page...

[Mike Synowiec @ Apr 26th 2006 10:22PM]

We are so close to becoming brains in a tank its not even funny!! :p

[Karl Viklund @ Apr 26th 2006 11:00PM]

One who might have use for a robot like this may be the Pope. At least when he gets older :)

[Perrey Z. @ Apr 27th 2006 12:07AM]

The article forgot to mention the student woouldn't have made this invention possible without the monetary and manufacturing colaboration of Matsushita Electric Co.

[panasianbiz @ Apr 27th 2006 12:14AM]

Whether this thing works or not, you've got to admit that Japan seems to constantly be developing the best robots. They're all over the manufacturing robots, they've developed robot "pets," and now these things. Cool!

[Germ @ Apr 27th 2006 9:44AM]

Isn't it a trite bulky? I would kinda like to have something that could fit into the trunk of my car(and could climb out by itself!).

[obo @ Apr 27th 2006 6:23PM]

"it could take another five years before the robot can be used by the elderly. At present, the device is slow and needs modifications to carry heavy loads" != this device will function as shown and will undergo radical changes

Oh, I'm sorry. Nevermind. ZOMG horrible design!!1! I did better with Legos LOLOL WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME

[Neil @ Apr 28th 2006 4:52AM]

This is clearly not for handicapped people, but more along the lines of making Japanese taller. If you use measure the length of his legs from hip, and then measure distance from ass to ground, you will clearly see this guy just added six inches on his vertical!

[Bram Vanderborght @ Apr 28th 2006 9:44AM]

I visited yesterday the waseda robotics lab and this robot and it is really a cool robot. It is not simple to control a robot with a person on it with unpredictable movements and keeping the ZMP inside the support polygon.

[Spang @ Apr 29th 2006 2:27PM]

What all of you are forgetting is the difference in accessability for the handicapped between this country and Japan. Here in america, we gots rams and inclines up the yin-yang (pardon the pun), but in Japan, everything is stairs. there are no ways for people to easily get someplace. I think that this is a good idea, but it doesnt solve the problem at its root.