The SORA-Q Lunar Robot that Takara Tomy helped design will not be returning to Earth when it has done with its mission on Moon. Well, not that you can own it anyways. Oh, wait. Maybe you can own one. Takara Tomy has recently revealed a remote control toy replica of the SORA-Q.
The Takara Tomy 1:1 Scale SORA-Q Flagship Model, as it is called, is pretty much the same thing except for the control methods and materials used. It is of the same size (which has a diameter of about 8 cm (3.15 inches). It has the same transformation from sphere to rover and it moves around the same way too i.e. rolling or “crawling”.
However, instead of being controlled by Mission Control Center, it is controlled by a free smartphone app available for both Android and iOS. The app has AR features that bring the Moon to your home or wherever you may be piloting it. So if you ever wonder what your couch looks like on the Moon’s surface, well, then there’s no more wondering with the companion app. Though I hardly think anyone’s ever thought of how their living will look like on the dusty surface of the Moon.
Anyhoo, the app lets you immerse in the moonscape as you maneuver the robot around your house, and in the process, you may learn about the Moon with information offered by JAXA. You can also do so without the moonscape.
But if you do use the Moon mode, you can experience seeing Earth from the Moon while you are driving this little bot around. The app further offers event missions as you are operating the little fellow in Moon mode. There’s an AI driving mode in which SORA-Q will roam as it sees fit and returns to the included AR marker.
Finally, you are free to take pictures as you drive SORA-Q around and review the images in the exploration log, just like a real Moon mission.
While it is not made of aerospace-grade aluminum, the RC version for kids is still made of metal. It does come with a set of wheel covers to, presumably improve the grip on smooth surfaces, and protect the floors from the metal “wheels”. Unlike the real SORA-Q, it does have a USB charging port.
With the introduction of the Takara Tomy 1:1 Scale SORA-Q Lunar Robot Remote Control Toy, Takara Tomy also partnered with Kodansha for a Space Brothers edition.
The Space Brothers Edition has a limited run of just 300 units and each unit features a blue center core (as opposed to yellow), and the Space Brothers 15 Years Anniversary logo is printed on the side and the Space Brothers theme, featuring the protagonists, continued on the AR UI.
The Takara Tomy 1:1 Scale SORA-Q Lunar Robot Remote Control Toy will be released in early September 2023 for 27,500 yen (roughly US$197). The Space Brothers Edition, on the other hand, is pricier at 33,000 yen (around US$237). It will also be available in September. Meanwhile, both versions are available for pre-order in Japan. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Images: Takara Tomy [JP].
