Robotic Toys - World's 1st Robot Marathon
Robotic Toys
World's 1st Robot Marathon in Japan
Five radio controlled Robotic Toys raced 26 miles (42.195 km) non-stop for more than 2 days on a 109 yards (100 m) indoor track in Osaka. Competitors were allowed to change batteries and the servomotors which control the robots' speed and other functions.
Organized by Japanese robotics company Vstone, local universities and supported by the Osaka government, "Robo Mara Full" endurance race coincided with the 2011 Tokyo Marathon.
The bipedal humanoid Robotic Toys marathon race involved 423 laps in the 26 miles indoor track at an average speed of 0.77km/hour. Toy-sized Robovie-PC won the race by the narrowest of margins, beating Robovie-PC Lite by just a second. Robovie-PC weighs 2.4kg (5.3 pounds) with a height of 40cm (16inches). Upon finishing, the two champion class humanoid robots from Vstone waved their arms and bowed to the appreciative glorifying spectators.
Vstone is known for its kit series of educational Robotic Toys, humanoid robots and Robovie R3 humanoid platform. The event organizers are hoping that the "Robo Mara Full" bipedal Robotic Toys will take off and become an international event just like the robot soccer, "Robo Cup".
Event promotions of RC Robotic Toys of this nature will perhaps expose keener interest in the hobby of robotics. It was as rewarding to the contestants with their Robotic Toys and its implementations in robotics and automation.
