Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Japanese Politicians Are Thinking about Building Gundam. Like, Real, Working Gundam [News via Kotaku]

Another good read about Japan's interest in building a real working giant robot. 
[News via Kotaku]
Previous article from AnimeNewsNetwork: HERE


Politicians everywhere are crap—even the ones who are thinking about building a giant, working mecha. In an upcoming broadcast on Japanese video platform Nico Nico Live, members of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party are apparently going to discuss the idea of building a real life Gundam.
The Liberal Democratic Party, which ruled Japan for over fifty years after World War II, is not actually "liberal". Rather, the party is conservative. Well known party members, Tadamori Oshima and Bunmei Ibuki, are slated to discuss biped robots and now the LDP is "seriously considering the development of Gundam."
Back in 2008, it was estimated that a working (not just a full scale mock-up like above), one-to-one scale would cost US$725,000,000 for parts and materials. That figure doesn't include the cost of labor or the cost of insanity required to build such a machine.

These politicians probably do not mean they want to make a 60-foot tall, 43.7 metric ton Gundam replica (at least I hope they don't), but instead, large mecha contraptions that could be used by, presumably, the country's Self Defense Force. In an age of drone attacks, however, mecha don't exactly seem ideal on the battlefield....
Read full article @ Kotaku

14 comments:

  1. Have you read or seen about the previous official GUNDAM project by Japan? Its bipedal alright, but its not an actual robot, rather it was an exosuit. So I was wondering whether this time it refers to building robot or mass producing the exosuit.

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  2. Drone attacks, please, with all the technology Japan has, they may finally crack something close to Gundarium or Gundanium alloy.

    A potential future warfare situation:

    "What the? Sir, our missiles, barely made a scratch on that thing!

    "What the hell is that? looks like a White Devil" children's robot plaything?"

    "Sir, i believe...it's a...GUN-DAM!"

    *RX-78 2 looks at screen, points beam rifle*

    "Oh no, UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

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  3. If those Japs reeeally have their way, then S*** is about to get pretty real. Beijing and DC be warned... XD

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  4. crazy nacionalist yakuzas detected...

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  5. If they build a Gundam, I will pull off a Gundam jacking Gato style.

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    Replies
    1. LOL. Only Tomino would think that somebody would build an expensive, walking death-machine and not think to put a lock on the door.

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    2. They could put a lock on its OS, like Kira with Strike, as easy that is for government hackers to crack down.

      Or they can have the Eye Retina Scanner from 00 (I have no idea how Ali was able to pilot the Throne Zwei without authorisation in the first place)

      Or put a unique key system like the one in Lancelot. As easy that is to forge a key.

      Or the bio computer in F91. A host system which will organically recognize its user/pilot through brainwaves, the skin, personality, etc.
      Or they can have some secret questions and identity checks which only the designated pilot/s will be able to answer. Got that from most web security forms (once again easy to hack)

      Ah the limitless ways a human mind can break technology.

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    3. but they could just use a specific command to pilot it?

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  6. I'm sure those politicians have good childhood moments with their mecha tv series, lol. :D

    But anyway, seriously,
    Mecha is only useful for use in outer space, zero gravity, or exploration on desolated place.
    And perhaps for entertainment.

    And NO, mecha will never suitable for battlefield or war.
    WHY ?
    At the time you can build a fully functional mecha, other technology will also advanced very well, making mecha useless for any kind of combat.

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    Replies
    1. gundam was made for the space use in mind,maybe it will be more realistic if they build something like AS From full metal panic, it's more agile for ground combat and it's still can use armament that exist nowadays.although the fully functional mecha won't be perfect for a decade or two

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    2. also, Knightmare frames in Code Geass with their ground rollers seem kinda practical, Anything from armored core really, or mech warriors. That exo skeleton from Avatar might seem far off, but we have small versions assisting workers in factories already. but the Gundam's mechanical technology (specifically RX78-2) seem the most closer to real life.

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  7. This article annoys me. "Let's report something cool and interesting, then let's trash it and whine about how silly it is. Because god-forbid that we let people fantasize for a moment. God-forbid we don't IMMEDIATELY remind people of how boring, lame and terminally shitty reality is." Thanks. And if they actually did build it? GOOD! I hope they spend billions of dollars (better than wasting billions+ on, you know, a war...) to make a 60ft walking-childhood-dream and all they do with it is use it to step on your house, faggot!

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  8. FUCK YOU JAPAN IM GONNA MAKE THE FIRST MECH WHEN I GROW UP BUT NOW YOU CRUSHED MY DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. No, no, no. First you have to build the Zaku I, or at least it's predecessors. Then work your way up to Zaku II, THEN you can make the Gundam. Process of superiority, yea?

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