Photo: Stock Photos from Unique Shutter/Shutterstock
Earlier this year, we introduced Japan’s gigantic RX-78-2 Gundam robot that’s currently undergoing a series of movement tests at Gundam Factory Yokohama, just south of Tokyo. In July, the engineers released a video, showing how the 60-foot-tall droid was able to lift and lower its huge mechanical legs. Today, around eight weeks later, new videos have surfaced that show how Gundam’s movements have progressed. The 55,500-pound mechanical marvel can now walk, kneel, turn its head, and even point to the sky.
The impressive robot is based on the popular Gundam character that debuted in Yoshiyuki Tomino’s and Sunrise’s anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam, in 1979. Gundam Factory Yokohama has been working on the robot since January 2020, and hoped to finish it in tandem with the opening of Gundam Factory amusement park, which was scheduled for October 2020. However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the opening has been delayed indefinitely and the RX-78 Gundam robot will remain at the Port of Yokohama for about a year.
Despite the setback, it looks like the engineers are well on track to finishing the project. The videos—captured by residents of Yokohama’s bayside district—show the life-size Gundam moving slowly and deliberately. In one particular video, it’s seen moving its arm upwards before pointing one finger to the sky—each of its 6.5-foot long hands weigh 1,300 pounds alone! In another clip, the huge scale of the robot can really be understood. The seemingly tiny engineers can be seen alongside the immense robot as it turns its head to look at them.
Check out the fascinating videos of the RX-78-2 Gundam robot below.
Japan’s gigantic RX-78-2 Gundam robot is currently undergoing a series of movement tests at Gundam Factory Yokohama.
等速の動くガンダム！ pic.twitter.com/4BYqV2Nhwg
— なんちゃん（祝ガンプラ40周年） (@nansei2) September 20, 2020
横浜の動くガンダム、10倍速にしたらすげえリアルw#ガンダム #ガンダム40周年 #横浜 #等身大ガンダム pic.twitter.com/c3u4XHUW0i
— 鶏肋@けいろく (@lucky_star3) September 20, 2020
New videos show how the 60-foot-tall droid can now walk, kneel, turn its head, and even point to the sky.
指が動きます！#動くガンダム pic.twitter.com/qvbet3pLfj
— なんちゃん（祝ガンプラ40周年） (@nansei2) September 20, 2020
観客席にロックオン！ pic.twitter.com/vvh52rJn5K
— なんちゃん（祝ガンプラ40周年） (@nansei2) September 20, 2020
実物大ガンダムを動かすプロジェクト
「ガンダム GLOBAL CHALLENGE」
・2歩踏み出す
・しゃがんで立膝
・立ち上がる
・右手を突き上げ、人差し指
・しゃがんで立膝
・バックステップでドックへ戻る
・手首の回転の指の可動
以前と違い、今回は爪先の動作まで確認できる位置より（速度加工済み）#GFY pic.twitter.com/JgwGILe2d5— よっくん (@yoshi115t) September 21, 2020
Gundam Factory Yokohama: Website | Twitter
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