Sep 24, 2010

Cheer for EVOLTA Robot's Next Challenge

Panasonic is glad to announce the next challenge of EVOLTA Robot following achievements at Grand Canyon in 2008 and Le Mans circuit in 2009; travelling 500 km from Tokyo to Kyoto, the route originally called the 53 Stages of the Tokaido in Japan.

Mr. Takahashi with EVOLTA Sisters
EVOLTA Robot

Two years ago, EVOLTA Robot climbed a 530-meter rope to the top of the Grand Canyon in 6 hours and 46 minutes. The next year, EVOLTA Robot finished the 24 hour Le Mans endurance race of 23.726 km and was subsequently recognized in the Guinness World Records for the longest distance covered by a battery operated remote controlled car. Two alkaline batteries were used for both challenges.

The famous robot creator Mr. Tomotaka Takahashi who designed this year's EVOLTA Robot also contributed to the designs for the previous two events. This year's robot will be powered by Panasonic's new rechargeable Ni-Mh batteries which will be released on October 1, 2010 in Japan, replacing the conventional alkaline batteries.

This Year's Challenge

EVOLTA Robot is scheduled to leave Tokyo on September 23 and arrive at Kyoto by December 10 stopping to re-energize once a day. This year's long-distance travel on public roads will be a much harder attempt for EVOLTA Robot.

Follow the Website!

Updated information will be introduced at the special site for the EVOLTA challenge complete with a blog on the latest updates and live broadcasting through USTREAM. Please follow the official account of Twitter (@evoltatoukaidou) to cheer for EVOLTA robot!

Profile of EVOLTA creator

Tomotaka Takahashi
From Osaka, Japan.
Background:

2003:, CEO of Robo Garage Co., Ltd.
2004-2007: Winner of the World Robo Cup

Takahashi's work has appeared in many magazines, including Time's "Coolest Inventions 2004," and he was named by Popular Science as one of the "33 people who will change the future."