Tachikoma, the killer spider tank toy now available

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]

[par @ Aug 28th 2006 10:35AM]

It looks like a toilet

[Mr. Mike @ Aug 28th 2006 10:40AM]

Is it just me or does this look like two robots getting it on?

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 28th 2006 10:48AM]

I agree with par on this one.

It looks like a toilet gone horribly, horribly wrong.

[Nathan Strang @ Aug 28th 2006 10:48AM]

Can you get these cuties in the states?
Man, say goodbye to transit problems if you could go to work in these babies.

[Matt @ Aug 28th 2006 11:01AM]

I think this is just a one off, modified version, of the 1:24 model produced by Wave.

[eganesan @ Aug 28th 2006 11:02AM]

daamn, i too thought its another wacky toilet from the land of the rising sun.

[Scabies @ Aug 28th 2006 11:02AM]

Tan
chi
ko-ma
Tachikoma-kun!

[B$ @ Aug 28th 2006 11:04AM]

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.)

[yubastard @ Aug 28th 2006 11:16AM]

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.

[Afterthought @ Aug 28th 2006 11:21AM]

Why is Engadget always referring to Wikipedia nowadays?!

I always thought that Engadget found stuff, THEN the news spread to wiki.

[JamesB @ Aug 28th 2006 11:23AM]

AWESOME.

[EdZ @ Aug 28th 2006 11:29AM]

I've already got little ball-jointed tachikoma, but it doesn't move/speak.

[Perrey Z. @ Aug 28th 2006 12:16PM]

It's a Toiletula!

[PodMonkeys @ Aug 28th 2006 12:24PM]

That is so awesome! The vids are great. I'd love one of these.

[Jim @ Aug 28th 2006 12:28PM]

I, for one, welcome our new Tachikoma overlords... "Tachikoma-kun!"

[niiconn @ Aug 28th 2006 12:34PM]

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)?

[Stormy Dragon @ Aug 28th 2006 12:41PM]

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.

[Mike @ Aug 28th 2006 12:52PM]

>.< Its soo cute.

[mastershake @ Aug 28th 2006 12:54PM]

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. >:^)

[mx @ Aug 28th 2006 12:57PM]

they are my favorite robots! very cute.

[Jay @ Aug 28th 2006 1:20PM]

Doggystyle?

[wolff000 @ Aug 28th 2006 1:21PM]

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?

[Leo @ Aug 28th 2006 1:33PM]

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!

[blahman @ Aug 28th 2006 1:37PM]

No love for the Fuchikoma, huh? At least that looked less like a toilet.

[Chef @ Aug 28th 2006 1:58PM]

So, anyone know where I can get one of these here in the US?

[Warner Young @ Aug 28th 2006 5:51PM]

B$, I think the voice is probably Tamagawa Sakiko, who does the voice of at least one of the Tachikomas in the anime.

[mastershake916 @ Aug 28th 2006 7:16PM]

Ebay here I come!

[B$ @ Aug 28th 2006 8:23PM]

"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!

[B$ @ Aug 28th 2006 8:28PM]

(@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.

[Gain_Bijou @ Aug 28th 2006 9:23PM]

Not for sale, at the moment

[DarkMirage @ Aug 29th 2006 10:31AM]

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?

[TOMATO @ Aug 29th 2006 10:46PM]

Whaoa, it's about one and a fourth feet tall.

I love Tachikoma, I really want one! no pricing/ possible sale information yet?