ROBOTS DREAMS - Robot news and robot hacks from a true robot geek

Real G: Gundam Statue Photo Book

It isn’t listed on Amazon Japan yet (otherwise we’d already have it on order), but Kadokawa will be releasing the “Real G” photo book documenting the construction of the life sized Gundam figure built to commemorate the giant robot’s 30th anniversary.

The photo book will be B5 size with 100 pages of full color photos by Noriko Yamguchi documenting the entire process from conception, design, construction, and unveiling this weekend. The projected release date is July 31 with a price of 1,200 yen.

RoboGames 2009 Day Three Photos

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Originally uploaded by Tempusmaster.

The photo set for RoboGames 2009 Third Day is online now. We hope you enjoy seeing the photos as much as we did taking them.

Giant Gundam - Inside The Wall Photos

When we made the trek out to see the giant Gundam statue being erected next to Tokyo Bay we noticed quite a few professional photographers taking shots as well. Later a couple of them actually got to go inside the construction wall. For example, check out the excellent Gundam photo spread in the Mainichi Daily News.

Many thanks to Laurent Lessieux for the heads-up.

"There Be Robots!"

The Boston.com website has a really great robot photo feature in “The Big Picture” section today.

Robot Photo of the Day: Robot on the Pitching Mound

Onimaru shows off to a crowd of budding robot fans. (February, 2008)

Robot Photo of the Day: Ready, Set, Go!

  Wonderful Robot Carnival January, 2008

Robotics is one of those rare activities that allows people to express their own creativity in a multitude of ways. Some builders enjoy the programming, the mechanics, or the design challenges, while others love to compete in robot combat, and some just enjoy the sense of community and sharing.

Robot Photo of the Day - Electro

electro
Originally uploaded by uptown productions.

Electro - Obviously a music performance group, possibly in France or Canada - we'll have to research a bit further. Anyway, Electro looks very cool.

Robot Photo of the Day - N.P. 5357

np5357
Originally uploaded by Tempusmaster.

A replica of the classic N.P. 5357 tin robot. Originally produced in Japan in the late 1940's.

According to friends here, after the war (WWII) Japan desperately needed foreign currency and focused on exports. Since they couldn't purchase raw materials from overseas, some enterprising craftspeople recycled the tin cans discarded by the US military to make small toys, including robots, trains, and cars, to export. The N.P. 5357 robot is considered by many to be the first success.

While a replica, like the one above, can be readily purchased for $10 or so, originals have become collectors items and tend to be rather pricey.

Robot Photo of the Day

3rd RCS Brave Robot Competition - Kawasaki, Japan (March, 2007)

 

Robot Photo of the Day

American School in Japan (ASIJ) science students get their first humanoid robot experience at RT Corp. in Akihabara. (November, 2008)