The robot that can turn into a car
By Eddie Wrenn
A Japanese inventor has designed a robot that can change from robot to vehicle in seconds - and can even offer 'piggy-backs' on its shoulders.
Looking a bit like Optimus Prime, the lead character of the Transformers films, the robot is even prepared to battle, especially when it takes exception to sharing the stage with a smaller robot.
The three-foot high creation took part in the Robo-One competition, which aims to drive the creation of humanoid-shaped robots.
Standing tall: The robot is activated and takes a stroll towards the stage...
Transformers in disguise... OmniZero.9 gets into position and gets its shoulders ready for some wheel action
And we're off: OmniZero.9 goes for a lap of honour around the stage
And back again: The robot lifts itself back to the standing position, in an astonishing display of dexterity
This robot is a friend of the humans, even offering one of us a lift
Resemblance: Optimus Prime, from the 2007 hit film
OmniZero.9, as the name suggests, is the ninth creation by Japanese roboticist Takeshi Maeda.
When the robot is ready for a drive, it gets onto its knees and its shoulders adapt into motorised wheels, making it a useful soldier when the Transformers need a hand.
Its head also flips back to give any rider a comfortable seat.
The robot was filmed at the Robo-One competition, held each year in Japan, where robots can race, dance, and fight in a bid for dominance.
The competition is primarily aimed to advance the development of humanoid-shaped robots, and each year the robots get a bit more advanced.
OmniZero.9, at 3.4 feet tall and 55lb, certainly proves a dexterous creation, with the videos below showing just how smoothly and well-balanced its movements are.
Previous versions of OmniZero could climb a ladder, skip rope, and break eggs.
OmniZero.9 puts his superiority complex to good use by punching his smaller cousin
...And sends him tumbling across the stage. He's won this Robot War
At the moment the robot, except for some automatic sensors adjusting movements for balance, is said to be remote-controlled, so this is currently little more than what we used to see on TV's Robot Wars.
But as the Rise of the Machines continues, it will be interesting to see what future iterations can bring.
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