13-foot-tall robot can be customized and piloted or controlled remotely

Designed by Japanese artist Kogoro Kurata, the 13-foot-tall Kuratas robot can be piloted or controlled remotely to perform the motions and tasks of its owner's choosing.

Robotic devices have figured prominently on our virtual pages over the past few months, but it seems safe to say we’ve never seen anything quite like Kuratas. Designed by Japanese artist Kogoro Kurata, the 13-foot-tall robot can be piloted or controlled remotely to perform the motions and tasks of its owner’s choosing. Sold online by Suidobashi Heavy Industry, Kuratas weighs more than 4 tons and includes a pilot’s cockpit with gaming-style controls. Powered by the AE “V-Sido” control system, the device can also be controlled and interacted with via Kinect and mobile 3G internet access. Buyers can customize Kuratas to their heart’s content – “holding a squirt gun as a fire fighter, painting a body camouflage as a ranger in jungle, giving a mop and a cleaner as a home cleaning robot,” the company explains. Pricing begins at USD 1,353,500, with additional charges for “weapons”, cockpit amenities, and parts including a carbon shield or radio unit. The video below demonstrates the robot in action: Reminiscent in many ways of the Männerspielplatz amusement park we covered a few years back, Kuratas promises considerable appeal for gaming and robot enthusiasts with cash to spare, and proves, as did the Capcom Bar, that there is plenty of inspiration in the world of computer games for new business ideas. Entertainment entrepreneurs around the globe: a one-of-a-kind attraction to include in your own venue? Spotted by: Hemanth Chandrasekar