Cute Little Robot Making 300 Mile Trek Across Japan

The Evolta mascot will make a 300 mile (500-kilometer) trek across Japan from Tokyo to Kyroto as a publicity stunt to help promote Panasonic's Evolta batteries.

Cute little, Evolta. Credit: Sankei News, Panasonic

The robot was created by Tomotaka Takahashi, founder of the Japanese company Robo Garage. It weighs a whopping of 2.2 pounds and is powered by 12 AA batteries. The robot can travel at speeds of around 2-3 miles per hour. At those super sonic speeds, it is estimated that his 300 mile journey will take him about 49 days. That is, if he makes it. The thing is only 7 inches tall and 16 inches long. It's like the size of a Chihuahua. I hope he looks both ways before crossing the street! Ouch!

It's not the first time this cute little robot has made a journey that would rival the energizer bunny.

Back in May 2008, the thing climbed up a 1,740 foot rope from the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Also, in August of 2009 it walked for 24 hours straight at the Le Mans race circuit and completed 14.8 miles. Take that energizer bunny!


The day before Evolta left on its journey.


Evolta left on September 23, 2010 and should arrive in Kyoto on December 10, 2010. If all things go as planned. The journey is dubbed Evolta World Challenge 3.

Catch the thing doing its thing live on ustream here, and follow its tweets here. Further reading - Pinktentacle.

Do you think it's going to make it?

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