Tachikoma, the killer spider tank toy now available
By Cyrus Farivar 
posted Aug 28th 2006 10:30AM
posted Aug 28th 2006 10:30AM
While it's no Spidernaut robot, fans of the anime series Ghost in the Shell will surely appreciate this new robot creation of the Tachikoma. Although Wikipedia tells us that regular Tachikoma "are as large as an average sedan," this miniature version probably could fit in your desk drawer. From what we can tell based on the videos, it only speaks Japanese, except for a high-pitched "bye-bye!" that is accompanied by a really cute wave. Cute for an anime robot, anyway. If you can read Japanese, tell us what the rest of the page says in the comments, m'kay?[Via Robot Gossip]
It looks like a toilet
Is it just me or does this look like two robots getting it on?
Can you get these cuties in the states?
Man, say goodbye to transit problems if you could go to work in these babies.
I agree with par on this one.
It looks like a toilet gone horribly, horribly wrong.
daamn, i too thought its another wacky toilet from the land of the rising sun.
I think this is just a one off, modified version, of the 1:24 model produced by Wave.
Tan
chi
ko-ma
Tachikoma-kun!
Well, basically the site doesnt give much info. (At least the one that I got to after going through 2 different blogs to get to it.) There are also some WMV videos on the right there to watch.
Here goes:
size 40cm
Diameter of the body (chassis) about 12cm
weight 1.5kg
Level/degree of mobility: 19
Runs on a Lithium Polymer battery
Materials (Made of):
Plastic, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber
Series/Based on: VS-RC003 of VSTONE, inc.
Features (Purpose?):
Created as a promotional item for the GITS DVD. Features the voice talents of Mr. (Ms.? GITS people, help me out here) Tamagawa.
Total production period (Project length) : 5 months.
Producer: Takahashi Tomotaka
Created as a coop project between:
-Bandai Visual
-Prodiction I.G.
-VSTONE
-Mr. Matsumura from Osaka University.
The highly-anticipated GITS S.A.C. newest release "Solid State Society" is available on 24 November 2006 on DVD!!
(Doesn't say much about it, really. I was sort of hoping it would shoot nerf balls or something, at least.)
this is... truly awesome! I've always wanted a tachikoma, and this looks like just what I want. I hope it's programmable, sound samples can be added (like one's voice) or custom snippets from ghost in the shell in english!
a remote control would be nifty and long battery life. not to mention focusing the rotating eyes towards one point! and I must say the functional rotating eyes was a great addition.
Why is Engadget always referring to Wikipedia nowadays?!
I always thought that Engadget found stuff, THEN the news spread to wiki.
AWESOME.
I've already got little ball-jointed tachikoma, but it doesn't move/speak.
It's a Toiletula!
That is so awesome! The vids are great. I'd love one of these.
I, for one, welcome our new Tachikoma overlords... "Tachikoma-kun!"
For those not familiar with the series, the 'toilet tank' part in the back is the cockpit (although they can operrate autonomously, they often carry an operator with them). It sticks up like that to allow the person inside to see over the rest of the robot.
I want one of these too. Awesome.
Btw, could the info on this site: http://www.kokaku-s.com/tlm/info.html have something to do with the robot (take a look at the bottom left of the page)?
>.< Its soo cute.
I hope they have these at the Anime con this weekend! I have been dreaming of puting one of those VW auto drive things and maybe an Aibo brain in my Blue Mazdza 3 5 door in a dangerous attempt to recreate a Tachikoma. >:^)
they are my favorite robots! very cute.
Doggystyle?
awesome. i'm not a huge GIS fan but i do enjoy the series the adapted american one anyway the japanese ones are just too odd to follow at points. too many culutural differences i suppose. anyways this is great and i can't wait to get one. Side note to mastershake, in the sake of all of humanity please, please, please do not put an aibo brain in your car the last thing we need is a semi intelligent dog brain in a mazda. have u never seen terminator or the matrix?
Gotta have this, huge GITS fan, now they need to make a army so I can finally real the world with high-pitched bye-byes!
No love for the Fuchikoma, huh? At least that looked less like a toilet.
So, anyone know where I can get one of these here in the US?
Not for sale, at the moment
Whaoa, it's about one and a fourth feet tall.
I love Tachikoma, I really want one! no pricing/ possible sale information yet?
B$, I think the voice is probably Tamagawa Sakiko, who does the voice of at least one of the Tachikomas in the anime.
Ebay here I come!
"B$, I think the voice is probably Tamagawa Sakiko, who does the voice of at least one of the Tachikomas in the anime."
Cool. Thanks! The Japanese doesnt really distinguish if its a M/F. Sadly enough, I've still never seen the series, just the movies. But I still want one!
(@Niicon)
"Btw, could the info on this site: http://www.kokaku-s.com/tlm/info.html have something to do with the robot (take a look at the bottom left of the page)?"
I had a look, and thats actually just a plastic 1/24 scale model of a tachikoma, and it looks like it was released in Nov. 2005. Probably no relation to this particular promotion.
Considering the fact that it costs 1.5 kg and took the creator 5 months to build, no it's not for sale.
攻殻機動隊ＤＶＤのプロモーション用 doesn't mean it comes as a promotional item for the DVD, it means that it is used to promo the DVD, ergo you don't get it.
I mean seriously, 1.5 kg robot bundled to your DVD? How much is that gonna cost?