---
title: "Japan Is Building a Massive Walking Gundam Robot"
description: "Japan is building a massive humanoid robot modeled after those in the \"Gundam\" sci-fi franchise — and it'll reportedly be able to walk."
date: "2020-01-29"
modified: "2020-01-29"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/japan-building-massive-walking-gundam-robot"
categories:
  - "Robotics"
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "gundam"
  - "Japan"
  - "mecha"
  - "the digest"
---

# Japan Is Building a Massive Walking Gundam Robot

![Japan is building a massive humanoid robot modeled after those in the "Gundam" sci-fi franchise — and it'll reportedly be able to walk.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/japan-building-massive-walking-robot.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Kyodo News\</em\>*

## RX-78-2 Gundam

Japan is building a massive humanoid robot modeled after those in the "Gundam" [sci-fi franchise](<https://www.cbr.com/the-10-best-gundam-anime-ranked/>).

The robot will be a replica of [RX-78-2 Gundam](<https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/RX-78-2_Gundam>), the samurai-inspired mecha introduced in the original animated series in 1979. It'll be 18 meters (59 feet) tall and weigh a staggering 25 tons.

But size isn't the bot's most impressive characteristic — it's the fact that it'll be capable of walking.

## Massive Mecha

Plans for this massive robot kicked off in 2014 with the launch of the [Gundam Global Challenge](<https://gundam-challenge.com/en/guidelines/index.html>) project. The team behind the robot shared details on it during a recent press conference, as well as unveiled a one-thirtieth scale model of the robot.

Ultimately, the full-size robot will have 24 degrees of freedom, hands with fully articulated fingers and thumbs, and the ability to walk — though we don't know how far or for how long.

https://youtu.be/Dd460ExCkT8

## Mark Your Calendar

The bot's creators invite visitors to stop by the [Gundam Factory Yokohama Special Experience](<https://gundam-factory.net/en/>) at Japan's Yamashita Pier during weekends in July and August. That'll consist of a dock for the robot as well as shops, a robotics lab, a café, and a space for events.

The massive Gundam robot itself, however, won't be [on display](<https://gundam-factory.net/en/>) until October 2020 — and if you want to see it in person, you'll need to do so before the program ends in October 2021.

**READ MORE:** [Japan is building a 60-foot-tall, walking Gundam robot](<https://newatlas.com/robotics/yokohama-gundam-factory-18m-60ft-moving-robot/>) \[*New Atlas*\]

**More on giant robots:** *[Pacific Rim’s Robots Are Less Advanced Than Some of Today’s Real Robots](<https://futurism.com/pacific-rim-giant-jaegers-todays-robots>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)