Means of transport of the future: From car to walking robot?!
Developed by a Japanese company, the new four-legged robot in amusement parks will offer visitors the opportunity to experience current advances in future on-board locomotion. A unique experience for today's entertainment world, which could nevertheless influence transport in the long term.
After flying cars that magnetically hover over the roadway, another incredible innovation is coming out of Asia that could revolutionise our idea of mobility in a later future. The Japanese company Sansei Technologies has presented its prototype of the world's first four-legged walking robot. The company, famous among other things for its roller coasters, thus wants to expand the horizons of amusement park attractions and bring a groundbreaking ride to the market.
Undoubtedly an eye-catcher is the four-legged "walking robot", which offers space for two to four passengers with the support of 3.40-metre-long legs and a 1.60-metre-wide platform. "It is a new attraction, the first four-legged 'ride' in the world," claims Sansei Technologies. Their walking robot, they say, is unprecedented. No other walking ride - a perhaps reductive term in this case - allows visitors to "experience the dynamic movements of walking with their whole body". And on top of that, on board a robot of colossal dimensions.
However, Sansei's work is not yet complete. The company wants to optimise not only the mechanical mobility of the robot, but also its appearance, in order to adapt it to the different themes of the respective theme parks. For this, namely for the creative design of the walking robot, even manga and anime designer Hidetaka Tenjin was commissioned. The necessary control software, on the other hand, is being developed by Asratech, with the aim of making the remote control as smooth, precise and safe as possible - without spoiling the fun for visitors.
At the same time, the company is working on the development of another robot. A version of the famous Autobots from the "Transformers" film series, including the iconic transformation from robot to vehicle. Still flawed, however, is the technology for this new prototype. They say the 4.10-metre-tall robot still moves too slowly, whether in a bipedal modality or in car form.
The slow progress, however, does not deter the company from its long-term goal of creating more groundbreaking robots for amusement parks in the future. But what if the idea will not only amuse visitors but also make an impression beyond the amusement park ride sector? Will it be possible in due course to apply such technologies to the traditional transport sector?
After all, inventors are always on the lookout for new ideas. And the possibility of realising the dream of futuristic cities with robot-based transport is certainly attractive and lucrative enough to attract their attention. Sansei Technologies itself will continue to invest in and develop its four-legged robotic specimens as well as the iconic Autobots. Step by step, they will change the amusement park industry and who knows, when the technology matures, become the transport system of the future.