Gold Shachi Robot (金の鯱ロボット)

This robot by Ryomei Giken Co., resembles a Shachihoko (or Shachi), a creature from Japanese folklore that has the body of a fish and the head of a tiger. It was presented at the Aichi Expo's Prototype Robot Exhibition, which was held from the 9th of June until the 19th of June in 2005.

It is approximately 1 meter in length and weighs 25 kg. Its diameter is approximately 25cm. Its skin is made from silicone and covered in gold leaf worth 60,000 yen. It has a large pair of eyes with gold markings on its black pupils, and its mouth gapes open.

While I'm not sure how many were made, two can be seen in the YouTube video linked. One in the tank, and the other in the background.

Functions

It can swim autonomously, take photos with the CCD camera in its mouth, and emit ultrasonic waves. Its lower jaw and tail are capable of moving, and you can make it sink or float by eliminating water from or filling up the ballast tank. It was expected that this robot would be used for oceanographic research and water purification work.

Prototype

A wooden sculpture based on a golden 1/4 scale model of a Shachi was created as a prototype for the robot. The sculpture was created via 3D laser measurement.

Videos

Links