Something that you might not know about the CarsGuide and Oversteer editorial office is that we love robots.
Seriously, we've wasted so much time watching videos of ASIMO; Honda's adorable 'bot who plays soccer, serves drinks, and runs like it gambled on a fart and lost everything.
This is to say nothing of our fixation with Kirobo, Toyota's even MORE adorable robot (sorry ASIMO) who comes with its own little car seat and the ability to develop an unhealthy obsession with rice omlette.
So most of the robots we watch videos of are sweet and cute, to the point where, when the robot uprising happens we'd probably just let it unfold, because those adorable little robo-bubbies asked so damn NICELY!
Well... most of them anyway.
MegaBots is another story entirely.
There's a good chance you've heard about MegaBots already, but if you haven't? Think UFC by way of Mobile Suit Gundam and you'll get the picture.
Founded by Gui Cavalcanti and Matt Oehrlein, MegaBots Inc. is based out of Hayward, California, and for the last few years it's been developing a giant mech suit.
The company recently released a clip of the latest model in action. Well... it's either that, or leaked footage from one of Michael Bay's house parties. I haven't checked.
The battle-bot, named 'Eagle Prime' (presumably because that's where the darts landed on the 'patriotic American name' mood board) is Team USA's entrant in a Giant Robot Duel against KURATAS, the only other giant fighting robot in the world, developed by Japan's Suidobashi Heavy Industries.
The 13-foot-tall KURATAS, is so badass it has its own theme music and... wait, holy hell they MASS PRODUCE AND SELL IT!?
If challenging the country that made giant robot fights the pop-culture touchstone they are to a giant robot fight is seeming like a massive undertaking, you're absolutely correct.
MegaBots Inc. challenged Suidobashi Heavy Industries to a duel way back in 2015, basically because they both have big robots and obviously they should fight each other.
Which is solid reasoning. Why else make a giant battle-bot if you're not going to fight other battle-bots (ideally while asking your oponent "Just who the hell do you think I am?").
Kogoro Kurata, CEO, founder and creator of Suidobashi Heavy Industries, agreed to the duel, but with a caveat...
Yep, they wanted to be able to punch the American robot into scrap. Because what's a giant robot fight if they don't punch each other? MegaBots Inc. accepted these terms and set about further developing its contender.
MegaBots Inc. crowdfunded upgrades to their MK3 bot and that's how a year or so later we ended up living in a world with Eagle Prime. It took them a while because both teams needed to figure out, and I'm quoting here, "how not to die".
The battle ready MK3 is powered by a 430 horsepower (321kW) LS3 V8 engine which runs custom designed tank treads by Howe and Howe Technologies. It stands 16 feet tall (4 metres) (roughly the height of a giraffe) and weighs twelve tons.
The fight will be sometime in September. So, if you want to watch it then you should follow MegaBots Inc. on YouTube. Their channel has a bunch of other cool stuff, like videos walking you through the different parts of Eagle Prime and how they were tested. Like this one where they give it the ability to pick up a car.
Seriously though, check it out, because if the history of professional sport has taught us anything, it's that if something has an audience you can make a league out of it, and I don't know about you, but I'm very excited to watch giant robot smackdowns on the reg.
Basically, the point I'm building to here is this: Honda, get on this. ASIMO battle bot. Make it happen. You too, Toyota. These 'bots are big and slow, imagine sending in a Kirobo swarm like some kind of adorable Biblical plague. If anyone tells you they wouldn't watch that, they're probably lying.
Now all we need are hoverboards and lightsabers and my inner teenager will be very happy.
What would you name your battle bot? Brainstorm some ideas in the comments below.
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