The Energon Pub

[Va'al]

We've seen some advances in robotics, featuring transforming devices of sorts. It appears, however, that Takara Tomy, along with Brave Robotics and Asratech, are actually involved in the creation of a full-sized transforming car: Project J-Deite! They have recently revealed their first steptowards project completion, the 1/4 scale model, aptly named Quarter - read on below for more information, images and a clip, and head here for the whole story.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

To Project J-deite,
BRAVE ROBOTICS Inc., Asratec Corp.,
and Tomy Co., Ltd. belong.
In Project J-deite, we proceed research on
robot technology that creates the next generation.

October 2014.
As a first step of the result of technical research,
we produced “J-deite Quarter” of 1.3 m long,
a quarter of 5 m long of the final goal.

In this project,
we will continue to proceed research
to complete the next goal,
“J-deite Half” of 2.5 m long,
a half of the final goal in 2016.

Height in robot mode/length in vehicle mode: 1.3 m,
weight: 35 kg, maximum battery power: 3 kw,
operating time: 1 hour, number of seats: 2,
controlled by V-Sido OS.
Power source: servo motor manufactured by Futaba Corp.

[Robot Mode SPEC]
Maximum walking speed: 1 km/h, gripping weight: 0.1 kg.

[Vehicle Mode SPEC]
Maximum traveling speed: 10km/h, minimum road clearance: 40 mm.

[BERSEKAEL]

Good Job!

[dragons]

They made there own mini con head looks close to Japanese police car autobot series prime transforms into dragon train title is bit misleading expect it to be first real transforming car to drive in

[Sabrblade]

Anyone else getting an Alternators Smokescreen vibe from this?

[Rated X]

Not to say the final results wont be impressive, but unless the life sized car can drive and seat human passengers, it will be a bit silly.

[Rated X]

Not to say the final results wont be impressive, but unless the life sized car can drive and seat human passengers, it will be a bit silly.

[Doubledealer93]

this is really freaking cool.

[Fox Thiagarajan]

Nice. Going to be baby steps perhaps, until they develop one that transforms and drives. Very cool regardless.

[Shockwave7]

I remember back in the late 80s there was a transformer they showed off at monster truck rallies. Probably primitive by the standards of this prototype, but it shows they WERE doing life-sized versions at least 20 years before these guys.

Can't help wondering who's footing the bill for this, and what they hope to gain. I don't like to be a wet blanket, because this thing IS really cool. But as has been rightly asked - what's the point of it? What do the makers hope to do with this if it can't drive or seat passengers?

[welcometothedarksyde]

I for one welcome our new transforming overlords
I'm curious, how do they plan to recuperate the cost of this? Why are they doing it in other words

[timcourtois]

F@#!$&* gorilla arms.

[Convoy]

According to the story; they're doing this because an alien dubbed J-deite told some people, telepathically through a meteorite, to make him a receptacle that resembles a car/humanoid robot at 5 meters length to make communication, between here and there, more clear.

I'm sure the twist in 2020 will be something like J-deite turning out to be a villian named Jadestroyer and all along the message was, build me and witness your demise. or something like that.

[Gallifreyan Autobot]

Sick.

Waits patiently on BBTS, E-HOBBY, HOBBY LINK JAPAN for a exclusive figure (that transforms of course) based on this, the size of a masterpiece figure size

[Gallifreyan Autobot]

Anyone else getting an Alternators Smokescreen vibe from this?

A little

[OptimalOptimus2]

Robots are going to take over the world! Everyone, run for your lives!!!

[MarkNL]

Anyone else getting an Alternators Smokescreen vibe from this?

Yep, that was just the thing I first thought about when seeing this Transformer.

They should upgrade that front grill and give it more detail. Has the shape of an Aston Martin grill. Me likes eet.

[Evil Eye]

Well, KSI is real. We're screwed.

[padfoo]

Anyone else getting an Alternators Smokescreen vibe from this?

Oh yeah that was my first thought, they made Smokescreen!

[Peridot]

Dear God, they did it! They actually did it!

[Burn]

Can't help wondering who's footing the bill for this, and what they hope to gain. I don't like to be a wet blanket, because this thing IS really cool. But as has been rightly asked - what's the point of it? What do the makers hope to do with this if it can't drive or seat passengers?

Well there's the whole proof of concept and the whole "because we can".

But the technology they will probably have to develop to make it work will no doubt have applications in other fields of robotics as well.

[Black Bumblebee]

And now, if we can get a good AI developed by 2020 as well... we can combine the two, and dub ourselves the Quintisons, using our robotic creations as a new slave class...

[Madeus Prime]

As cool as this is, it'll never come to fruition.

[Ultra Markus]

im getting a minicon vibe from this

[Zeedust]

And now, if we can get a good AI developed by 2020 as well... we can combine the two, and dub ourselves the Quintisons, using our robotic creations as a new slave class...

Oh, yes, because that turned out so well on television.

I propose instead we look into integrating our own bodies into such technology, like the Nebulans.

[Burn]

As cool as this is, it'll never come to fruition.

You base this statement on what exactly?