Related Sections: Future Tech Robots
Want to build a Gundam robot? That'll be $725 mil, please
Sure, gigantic Gundam robots aren't real, existing mainly in the imaginations of Japanese youths, but what if they were? What if we really could build building-sized robots to do our bidding? How much would such an endeavor cost?
Important, heady questions such as these are apparently actually taken seriously in Japan, where they did a real price breakdown of a Gundam robot. So, what's the final cost? Oh, only about $725 million. Much of that price goes towards the seven gas turbine engines that were deemed necessary, as they run about $52 million a piece. Add in a $1.5 million IBM super computer for a brain and a gaggle of other mechanics and gadgetry, and you've got one expensive piece of nerd fantasy. Well, now you know.
SciencePortal, via Pink Tentacle
By adam005 at 7:35 PM ON 01/24/08
Well I have always wondered what the price tag would be for a Gundam. I am surprised to say that it is a lot less then I would have assumed, I originally estimated in the Trillions. Well this is good hope for me, $20,000 saved and much more money to go till I accomplish my dream of owning a Gundam.
PS: We need a nuclear reactor for it, not some gas turbine engines.
By Archangel at 11:59 PM ON 01/24/08
Well, the shuttle Endeavour cost 1.7 billion to build and each mission costs about 450 million (source: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html). Lets build a couple of Gundam!
By Lironah at 3:15 AM ON 01/25/08
Actually the listed cost is JUST for the materials and construction. With the actual research, software and testing costs, I'm sure it would easily top a billion dollars.
By vncnt9663 at 12:36 PM ON 01/25/08
This sounds like a steal when you consider the cost of one F-22 Raptor, $339 million per aircraft. I'll take two please.
By Spaceball1 at 1:27 PM ON 01/25/08
Couldn't G-01 transform to some extent? I wonder if the costs include that ability or if it is just for the walking part. Either or, sign me up!
By Roboman at 10:24 PM ON 01/30/08
Don't laugh someone in the near future in Japan will build a Gundam.
By EipharTreize at 11:16 PM ON 02/11/08
I don't doubt it at all. Building an actual fully functional mobile suit would be a scientific accomplishment worthy of the history books. It'll happen, though it may be our great (x10) grand children that see it.
By Anonymous at 4:17 PM ON 02/27/08
I wonder if they can operate the Gundam?
By Pete of Hartainia at 11:47 PM ON 02/29/08
The us gov't is (from what i've heard) about 50% of the way form making a fully funcional beam cannon. Not one to explode bombs mind you, but one like the kind from star wars, so i think we may be seeing giant robots sooner than we think.
By boyjo at 7:42 PM ON 03/16/08
A lot of people seem to think that you need a nuclear power source to pull this off. Wrong. And the price tag listed is way to high. I've estimated around 200 million and that's for the prototype, but after that it should only cost 75 to 125 million per unit. Most people think it has to be this super complicated machine. It's not at all other than the operating system. The OS is going to be hard but no more so than coding a video game. Why is my estimate so low you ask? It's because that the specs they've listed are rediculas and will only create a slow moving work horse, not a fast combat ready beast. These guys are over thinking it. I'm changing my major to robotics to build one of these bad boys. I'd give you guys more details but I plan on getting my design patented before I start talking about it. In the end it will be 1/2 slower than Jet Li, I guarantee.
By Anonymous at 8:23 PM ON 04/14/08
Wow. This is awesome. Anyone need help i'm in.
By Nick Popov at 11:27 AM ON 05/19/08
I wonder, how much if would cost if the robot was not that huge? I mean, why should it be the size of a building. I believe a model with several sport car engines will still be big enough to be spectacular, but those ones come with a much lower price tags. Fnyway, a buiding-size robot is not a very useful thing, not if you are staging an urban catastropy show anyway...
By Gundamw at 7:38 AM ON 10/10/08
Well, you couldn't really make a Gundam. You would need Gundamium alloy, which you can't find on earth. Oh well.
By Setsuna F Seiei at 9:23 PM ON 10/21/08
Think about it you bumheads. It would take at least 300 million if we used solar powered engines like in Gundam 00. It may take years or decades to design, but it would be good if any of you paid attention to the equipments required to make a Gundam or a Mobile Suit.
By Cats at 2:10 PM ON 01/21/09
cheeky bastards... god damn japanese, with your backwards ways and sideways pussys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By cronos53 at 4:17 PM ON 03/30/09
wow... you have got to be kidding me... you people actually think it can be done easily? like coding a video game.. HAHAHAHa how stupid can you be!!!
For one, nuclear reactors, CAN NOT GET!!! You only think you need that because of the anime... small, but important word... ANIME!!! Are you all really that dumb? you all seem like you should be smarter. apparently not. I do believe someday, it will be done. BUT! NOT BY A BUNCH OF PATHETIC PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!! Stop acting like you know what your talking about!! "oh im gunna change over to robotics, BLAH BLAH BLAH" that is just sad... very very sad. you do that.. no really do on, waste your money, go for it. patten your idea. see how far that really goes. and then, when its all said and done, and your sitting there with nothing. I will be laughing at you. Laughing at ALL OF YOU! for believing that you are smart enough to do this...
MS's have to be complex. to make it fight anyways. its going to be clunky, they stand at least 15 meters tall!! oh my god, how stupid can you all be... -_-
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cronos53:
wow... you have got to be kidding me... you people actually think it can be done easily? like coding a video game.....More »