Sight Of The RX-78-2 Gundam Robot In Motion

Ilustrasi Mobile Suit Gundam (dok. Gundam Factory Yokohama)

JAKARTA - After presenting two Gundam statues in Odaiba, Japan. Now fans of the animated series Gundam will be able to see real-size robots that can move.

The giant robot which is planned to be exhibited in Yokohama, Japan. This is the third collaboration that Bandai has done with Sunrise at the Gundam Factory Yokohama.

Quoted from the page of The Guardian, this 18 meter high robot takes the form of the RX-78-2 or the first figure from the animated series Gundam. Different from the previous model, this Gundam robot has a number of motion articulations that can be performed.

Life-sized Gundam in Yokohama is now in testing mode.pic.twitter.com/51HVoraPb7

- Catsuka (@catsuka) September 21, 2020

Although the movement is still quite slow and there is an auxiliary rigging that supports the 25 metric ton Gundam. It is clear that the appearance of the popular character Mobile Suit Gundam which was released in 1979 will attract the attention of many people.

In fact, this robot will become one of the centers of attention at the Gundam Factory Yokohama, on October 1. However, the Corona virus pandemic has caused the opening of the Gundam Factory Yokohama to be postponed at least until the end of the year.

"This decision was taken to ensure the health and safety of our fans and employees in response to the COVID-19 outbreak," wrote Gundam Factory Yokohama in a statement.

"We apologize to the fans who have been impatient waiting for the Grand Opening and we ask for your understanding. Meanwhile, we will get ready so that all visitors can be safe," he wrote.

Even so, Gundam fans, this week were given the opportunity to see the robot kneel and move his hands and fingers. The robot was watched closely by the workers on the observation deck.

Engineers started building this robot 6 years ago to make sure every part meets the weight limit to prevent the limb from bending and that all 24 parts of the robot move smoothly.

Robotics expert from Indonesia

To make this extraordinary project a reality, the Gundam Global Challenge team recruited engineers and robotics experts from within and outside of Japan. Interestingly, among them there are robotics experts from Indonesia who were involved in working on the Mobile Suit Gundam.

There is not much information about Pitoyo Hartono, but seen from the researchgate.net website, Hartono graduated from Pangudi Luhur Jakarta High School in 1988, then he pursued bachelor to doctoral education at Waseda University, Tokyo.

Apart from being involved in working on the Gundam robot. Born in Surabaya in 1969, he also became a professor at Chukyo University, Nagoya and also conducted research in the field of neural networks and computational intelligence theory for robotics. Hartono has also been a guest lecturer at the Surabaya State Electrical Polytechnic, in March 2016.

So far there are two 1/1 sized replica Gundam robots in Japan. One of them is the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam which is on display at the Tokyo Base, Odaiba City Front.

The plan for the first appearance of the RX-78-2 Gundam will be on September 29. This popular figure from the animated series Mobile Suit Gundam is going to show off to the public for the first time.