Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted May 19th 2009 8:42PM
posted May 19th 2009 8:42PM
You know, we see a lot of kick-ass vehicles 'round Engadget HQ, so it's easy to grow a little jaded. Who can forget that Batman Tumbler we saw tearing up the asphalt last summer? Or the Halo Warthog -- complete with UN Space Command BDUs? Sure, either of those would make for a fun-filled weekend (or a lifetime of weekends), but what about something a little more suited to urban environs? Next time you're in Tokyo, make sure you look up a gentleman named San Kougei, who put together a joystick-piloted replica Tachikoma (of Ghost In The Shell fame). Who knows? Maybe he'll even let you take it for a spin. We're looking forward to seeing some YouTube video of this bad boy, but in the meantime we present you with one more pic (after the break).
Update: Video found... from 2006. Hey, it's new to (most of) you!
[Via Tokyo Mango]
Update: Video found... from 2006. Hey, it's new to (most of) you!
[Via Tokyo Mango]
looks edible
I am going to buy a joystick and switch to his channel.
@ImaYam: that's sick...
where do his feet go?
THIS is why i love japan
Was about to make the same comment.
I went drinking at some isakaya yesterday night, this morning I am totally hangover. I cant remember a damn thing but it was fun. This is why I love japan.
Boards of Canada:
Make sure you have both your kidneys.
Glossy crimson.
FIRST
hm, lets see..... one... two... three... four... first?.... no. sorry wrong answer. go back to preschool.
...better yet, go back to the uterus and get aborted.
Yeah, his parents definitely missed their opportunity.
Which is why Im pro-abortion AFTER birth :D
you know what's sad? it took him so long to read this post that four people read and replied to said post before he could make five keystrokes (I'm going to assume this asswipe has capslock on and broken off) and one mouseclick.
I was reading this at 8:50, and there were allready comments in. And posted. This guy can't count ones that allready are there.
SEVENTH!
That is awesome!
your ava is awesome! (sry. couldnt contain myself. sonic fans come rare these days)
lol thx. yea Sonic fans are rare these days especially with people hatin' on recent games.
i dont care what they say. unleashed was awesome. werehog took some getting used to (still does) but sonic's stages were like being locked in a room with megan fox, jessica alba, and angelina jolie with a bottle of hen and some birth control
/nerdgasm.
Just messin' guys, Sonic is awesome
Look at this love connection...
the only Sonic I really play is Sonic 3.
Yep. Sonic 3. On my phone :p
It not really based on a Tachikoma, its MUCH closer to a Automated Responder from the Blue Gender fame. Unfortunately, there are very little screen shots of Blue Gender on the netz to back up my statement. :(
yea your right. i remember that show but it seems to have little to no presence on the internet.
Yup, you are right.
1) tachikoma were a lot larger and
2) certainly not red
People stick "tachikoma" at pretty much anything they want. It's a way long before anything like GITS tachikoma can be constructed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachikoma (surprisingly /informative/ .. or otaku-tive?)
Needs more:
- self-awareness
- cute, squeeky voice
- appendages
- cloaking
- ponderance of 'ghosts' and whether or not it has one
- ???
- Batou
That is pretty cool, but does it come with it's own AI that speaks in a cute, childish voice?
After all, a Tachikoma without a peppy childish persona is just a fugly four-legged spider :P
Caption: "They see me rollin', they hatin'."
I see what you did there! The internets, you win them!
sonic is the best - i played every sonic game till i beat my sr yr of college. had the whole dorm hooked!
ive been hooked since i was five. my first video game was sonic 2... i used to get up at 6 in the morning to watch all the shows and ran around thinking i was the fastest thing alive. those were the days. my mom thought id turn into a freakin' hedgehog XD
Hmm. I personally am waiting for a life-size Lagann.
He really looks satisfied with it, that's for sure.
His expression is awesome :)
All he needs (and maybe he already has) is a lil Dr. Dre's The Chronic pumpin outta that thing while he's rollin. Too good.
is it me or does the color reminds me of something red from star trek. the people who seen star trek will know what i am talking about
+1
Im sure some day the creepy baby robot will ride on this and take over japan.
but I prefer this one;
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/22/urinal-elephants-invade-japan/
That looks absolutely nothing like a Tachikoma.
At all.
That's what i thought. Anyway start product on mobile suit already, damn.
errr...doesn't look remotely close to a tachikoma...not at all.
I suppose because it has one "eye" and 4 limbs, and it's from Japan...that makes it a tachikoma? no.
I hate to break this to you Engadget, but that isn't like size. Unless that guy is 20 feet tall.
That said. I have a blue prius. I want a bumper sticker that says "My other transport is a Tachikoma' with a pick of a 'tachi on it. Sadly no such thing exists, and I can't find a place to make one.
umm that should be life....FAIL.
I think Zazzle would suit your needs nicely.
This is a Tachikoma. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tatikoma_B2.jpg
Just don't lubricate it with natural oil.
I misread the title as "Life-sized Tamagotchi...". A bit disappointed. :(
WTF is Tachikoma, never heard of it.
Tachikoma are Tank robots with AI's from the manga/anime/movies Ghost in the shell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachikoma
This is close, but not quite the same design.