Someday, we might have cute utility robots similar to what the characters have helping them out in Star Wars. Problem is, that’s probably still a long time away. In the meantime, they simply dressed an existing utility robot to look like it came straight out of the Star Wars universe in the form of the Piaggio Fast Forward G1T4 M1N1.
To the unfamiliar, the Gitamini is a two-wheeled robot that’s designed to transport cargo while following you around like a pack goat. No, it isn’t a STEM toy to play with, but a real utility robot you can put to work on the daily. It doesn’t use your phone or a GPS beacon to follow you, by the way, as it’s designed to identify and recognize its leader, which it automatically trails every step of the way, while avoiding obstacles the entire time.
The Piaggio Fast Forward G1T4 M1N1 is a compact robot that measures 18.9 x 16.5 x 17.9 inches (height x width x depth) and weighs 28 pounds. It retains the same proportions and features as the original Gitamini, albeit with a bunch of new decals, lights, and sound effects that won’t seem too out of place on robots you will find running around in Tatooine. Seriously, it looks and sounds so cool, really feeling like a robot straight out of a Star Wars movie. It uses the built-in lights, by the way, to communicate its current state, whether it be resting, following, or needing a recharge sooner than later.
The robot has a cargo compartment with a volume capacity of 1,000 cubic inches, with a maximum payload of 20 pounds. Sure, that’s not a lot of room, but that’s enough to fit a grocery bag with a good load of stuff inside. It can also keep moving with the top door open for accommodating taller cargo, such as rods when you’re pier fishing, rackets at the tennis court, or BB guns at the local airsoft field.
The Piaggio Fast Forward G1T4 M1N1 comes with cameras, radars, and other sensors that it uses to identify and recognize the person it’s following, as well as avoid any obstacles it encounters along the way . It’s designed to keep up every step of the way, automatically adjusting speed to maintain pace. Do note, it has a top speed of 6 mph, so it might not be able to follow if you go speeding on an electric scooter or an electric skateboard. According to the outfit, it can follow continuously for up to seven hours between charges, allowing it to cover around 21 miles of ground. The robot can fully recharge in under two hours. It comes with a companion app that you need to use for the initial setup, as well as for checking detailed status information on your droid and receiving OTA updates.
If you’ve had your fill of R2-D2 and BB8 toys over the years, while looking for something else to assuage the longing for a Star Wars droid, this just might be the thing to get you over. Seriously, it looks so much fun, especially with all that Star Wars livery all over it.
The Piaggio Fast Forward G1T4 M1N1 is available now, priced at $2,875.
