Cephalopodcast

via Pink Tentacle

I hope this is more realistic than stylized and that they sell cool T-shirts to go along with the attraction.

…on July 18, a group of Hakodate residents made an official announcement regarding plans to create a giant robotic squid for the city.

Members of the group include university professors specializing in robotic engineering, who will work to incorporate cutting-edge technology that will allow the robot to be controlled remotely via the Internet.

…the entire body of squid robot will be covered in lights that blink as the robot moves. In addition, the robot will be equipped with a set of wireless receivers and will have its own homepage featuring a set of controls that allow remote users to move the robot’s tentacles and eyes.

The developers plan for the robot to stand 5 meters (16 feet) in height. After an intial 1.5-meter prototype is completed this November, work will begin on the larger final version, which the group aims to unveil in a parade at the Hakodate Port Festival in the summer of 2007.

The total cost of the robot is expected to be somewhere in the 30 million yen range (US$250,000).

• Giant interactive squid robot in the works