G-Robots GR-001 In US

[RedFoxDude]

I have seen that the G-Robots are being released in Japan on February 28, but what about in the US? This question drove me crazy, so I contacted Futaba, and here is the answer!

"I hope that this email finds you well. Futaba has forwarded your email
to me pertaining to the G-Robots GR-001.

In the US market, this robot will be designated the RBT-1 and will be
sold under the Futaba brand name. The SKU is: FUTX1000; with an
estimated arrival date of March 2007."

How exciting! I want one so bad!!! Better start saving...

Red
P.S. Sorry if this doesn't fit here.

[Ray]

Hi Red,

Conguration!!

I like G-Robots too,

I also contact hpi company they say they only sold it in Japan,
It is good to hear Futaba will have this robot in US Market.

I will start saving too


By the way, here is the reply from hpi:


***********************************************

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your inquiry.

1) Do your company plan to sell english version of G-Robot?

Unfortunately the G-ROBOTS GR-001 is to be sold only in Japan and we
have no
plans to sell the product overseas at the moment. Although we plan to
sell
other new products overseas in the future, no specific plans have been
made.
Thank you for your understanding.

2) Do G-Robot has build-in Gyro ?

The G-Robot do not have a built-in gyro but a gyro can be mounted in
the
G-Robot. We are currently developing a gyro as an option part for the
model
but we have not yet determined the release date.

3) Do G-Robot has "Teaching function" such as the KHR2 of KONDO?

The G-Robot has a teaching function just like KONDO's. Ours is called
"capture".

4) Any over temperature protection?

The G-Robot has a servo protection system to turn off a servo when the
temperature exceeds a certain degree. The servo will be turned on again
when
the temperature is lowered enough.

Thank you for your continuous support for HPI Racing.

Best regards,


G-Robots customer service
G-robots-cs@hpiracing.co.jp

************************************

Ray.

[RedFoxDude]

Look at what I just found!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRJS2
http://www2.omnimodels.com/cgi-bin/woi0001p?&I=FUTX1000
EDIT: By the way, hpirobot.jp has lots of new videos.

Red

[Ray]

Great !

Thanks Red

[tempusmaster]

Look at what I just found!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRJS2
http://www2.omnimodels.com/cgi-bin/woi0001p?&I=FUTX1000
EDIT: By the way, hpirobot.jp has lots of new videos.

Red

It's pretty cool. The build goes really fast - around 2 hours. The docs are excellent (the Japanese - I haven't seen the English docs yet). They even went to the trouble to layout the parts in the box in the order of assembly.

The additional DOF are a definite plus, and I like the daisychain design. The motion editor is easier to use than other similar kits. The only negatives I've run into so far are the cost (here in Japan), and the fact that it's going to be very hard to hack.

[robbybot]

will the futaba rbt1 (g-robots 001) that is being offered by these 2 companies in the states have english software and instructions?

[RedFoxDude]

I found some more sites that are selling the RBT-1.
http://www.redrockethobbies.com/Futaba_RBT_1_Robot_2_4GHz_RTW_p/futx1000.htm
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/fut/futfutx1000.htm

EDIT: The RBT-1s are going to be blue and will be fully assembled. I hope that they make kit versions!

[cdraptor]

I got an e-mail back from Trossen Robotics and it looks like Futaba will be released June or July. They also do not have the retail pricing, so I am not sure what the companies posting online are going on. I think they are increasing the $1,200 US price that was rumored to set higher expectations. From all the searching and looking at the existing Japanese site it would seem this is going to be in kit form. The kit is supposedly an easy to put together setup that even a novice can do in about 2 hours. If you browse around on the japanese site, you will see they have images showing construction of the leg servos, etc.

I have a local hobby shop checking in with his Futaba rep to see if he can score me some more details.

[RedFoxDude]

Cool! Tower Hobbies told me that the RBT-1s will be fully assembled. Please let me know if you find anything about a kit version. I bet that the reason the shops online have the RBT-1 for $1400 is because they are fully assembled, and that the $1200 price would be for a kit.

[Ray]

The present problem to me is that,

what is the shape of the controller? (same as G-Robot ?) , I had see the Futaba's exhibitionn, the controller is larger and square shape. (different)

Another, thing I concerned is the robustness of the plastic, although my KHR2 also has plastic servo arm, and its OK, but, this time totally plastic body....

Anyway, I still like the G-robot,

[tempusmaster]

The present problem to me is that,

what is the shape of the controller? (same as G-Robot ?) , I had see the Futaba's exhibitionn, the controller is larger and square shape. (different)

Another, thing I concerned is the robustness of the plastic, although my KHR2 also has plastic servo arm, and its OK, but, this time totally plastic body....

Anyway, I still like the G-robot,

It's the same controller.

[tempusmaster]

Cool! Tower Hobbies told me that the RBT-1s will be fully assembled. Please let me know if you find anything about a kit version. I bet that the reason the shops online have the RBT-1 for $1400 is because they are fully assembled, and that the $1200 price would be for a kit.

The "$1,200 price" has always been the discounted street price, with the official list price expected to be several hundred dollars higher.

Just out of curiosity, if you had the choice, which would you prefer - a kit that took 2-3 hours to assemble, or a fully assembled robot that cost $150 more?

[RedFoxDude]

I think I would want the kit. I really enjoy the building part. To me, its half the fun. I wouldn't mind a RTW though, so if there isn't a kit, that's fine.

[cdraptor]

Well I pre-ordered the Futaba RBT-1 today. So the listed retail price is $1,699 and it's not kit form from Futaba - it is fully assembled. You'll likely pay $1,399 like I did. Anyway It still slated for end of May, not sure if I will get mine in the initial shipments or not - my hobby shop is going to pre-order from another Futaba contact as well.

Anyway I'll be taking some pics and vids when I get it. Hopefully we'll have enough Futaba RBT-1 users to get a category on Robosavvy forums.

[Ray]

Hi all,

Here is the support of parts of RBT-1 from Japan R&T company,

http://www.rt-net.jp/index.php?manufact ... page=index

They said they can provide all the parts except the CPU board,


( It is because Japan cannot export gyro or acceleration sensor. so, you cannot buy a complete G-Robot in Japan )

There is no parts available in US or other country now
It is good if Robosavvy has RBT-1