Real-Life Mechs Compared: Which Giant Robot Is Actually the Closest to Gundam?

Comparison of Archax Robot, RX-78F00 Gundam, and Eagle Prime MegaBot

Giant humanoid robots have long been a staple of science fiction and anime – from Mobile Suit Gundam to Transformers, the dream of piloting a towering mech has captivated millions. In recent years, that dream has edged closer to reality. This report dives into three of the most famous real-life giant robots available today – Tsubame Industries’ Archax, Gundam Factory Yokohama’s RX-78F00 Gundam, and MegaBots’ Eagle Prime – comparing their engineering specs, histories, purposes, and latest status. We’ll see how each one measures up (literally), and which comes closest to bringing anime mechs to life.

Archax – Japan’s Transforming Pilotable Mech

Design & Specs: Archax is a 4.5 m (14.8 ft) tall, four-wheeled humanoid mecha developed by Tokyo-based startup Tsubame Industries. Weighing about 3.5 tons, this battery-powered robot can operate in two modes: an upright “Robot Mode” and a crouched “Vehicle Mode”. In vehicle mode, Archax drives on its four wheel-equipped legs at up to ~10 km/h (6 mph). In standing robot mode, it moves more slowly (~1.9 km/h) but can deploy its arms and legs for dramatic effect. Archax’s frame is built from iron and aluminum alloy, with an outer shell of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) panels. It features 26 degrees of freedom (movable joints including head, waist, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers) for a human-like range of motion. The power comes from a 300 V lithium battery system, meaning Archax is fully electric.

Cockpit & Control: A single pilot can climb into Archax’s cockpit through a hatch in the torso. Once inside, the operator is surrounded by multiple displays (the robot has an array of exterior cameras for visibility) and uses dual joysticks, pedals, and touchscreens to control the mech. Archax provides a “pilot experience” much like anime mechs: the pilot’s joystick motions translate to the robot’s arm movements, and foot pedals control locomotion. The cockpit has 4 monitors and feeds from 9 cameras for navigation. Tsubame also enabled remote operation, but the core concept is “onboard operation” – physically riding inside the robot for an immersive experience. In the words of CEO Ryo Yoshida, “Japan is very good at animation, games, robots and automobiles so I thought it would be great if I could create a product that compressed all these elements into one.” Archax was explicitly designed to “look cool” and function reliably at the same time, blending mechanical and aesthetic design like a real-life Gundam.

Capabilities: While not intended for combat, Archax’s arms and hands are fully functional. The robot has articulated fingers that can grasp and manipulate objects up to about 15 kg (33 lbs). It can transition between standing and driving postures at the push of a button, adjusting its wheelbase and center of gravity accordingly. This effectively lets it transform from a bipedal stance to a low-slung four-wheeled vehicle – a feature reminiscent of science fiction mechs. Its top speed (10 km/h) is modest, and in practice Archax moves with deliberate slowness for safety. But the appeal is in precise movement: at Japan Mobility Show 2023, Archax demonstrated controlled motions of its upper body and arms, showing off its dexterity. Safety features, including robust frame stability and adherence to industrial robot safety standards, were built-in from the start.

Development History: Archax was unveiled in 2023 after several years of secret development by Tsubame Industries, a startup led by 25-year-old Ryo Yoshida. Yoshida, who learned welding at his grandfather’s ironworks and previously built prosthetic robotic hands, assembled a team of engineers and designers to make Japan’s first rideable giant robot. The robot’s very name, Archax, is inspired by Archaeopteryx – an ancient winged dinosaur – reflecting its hybrid nature (perhaps hinting at “evolution” from creature to machine). Yoshida has said he “wanted to create something that says, ‘This is Japan’”, combining Japan’s strengths in anime, gaming, robotics and automobiles. Funding has come from private investors and company funds; the project reportedly cost on the order of several hundred million yen. By late 2023, a prototype Archax was completed, and Tsubame announced plans to build only five units for sale to wealthy enthusiasts.

Purpose & Use Cases: The initial purpose of Archax is entertainment and experiential – essentially, to let someone live out the fantasy of piloting a Gundam-like robot. With a price tag of ¥400 million (~$2.7–3 million), it’s marketed to “well-heeled robot fans” as the ultimate collector’s toy. Only five are being made available for preorder, underscoring its exclusivity. However, Yoshida and his team also foresee practical applications in the future. They hope that giant human-operated robots could prove useful for disaster relief, construction, or even space exploration tasks – areas where a large teleoperated humanoid could assist humans in dangerous environments. “It also has the role of heavy equipment useful for disaster recovery and space development,” explained Tsubame director Tatsuo Yoshida, describing Archax as a first step toward robots that augment human capabilities (lifting heavy objects, providing direct feedback to the operator, etc.). These ideas are still aspirational – for now, Archax’s real-world use case is primarily as a promotional and educational showpiece, inspiring innovation and public interest in robotics.

Public Availability: As of 2025, Archax is not widely available for public rides (unless you happen to buy one). It has been showcased at events in Japan. The robot’s debut was at the Japan Mobility Show 2023 (Oct–Nov in Tokyo), where it demonstrated upper-body movements to amazed crowds. Tsubame Industries also brought Archax to special exhibits – for example, a December 2023 event allowed visitors to see Archax up close alongside other prototype robots. While the general public can’t climb inside Archax at these shows, they can watch it move and even take photos with this 15-foot mech towering above. Pilot experiences for ordinary people are not offered, given the complexity and safety concerns (piloting requires training). The company’s focus is on fulfilling the limited preorders and possibly operating Archax as an attraction at tech expos. In essence, Archax is available to see at certain events and, for a fortunate few, available to own. Its rarity and ¥3 million price also make it a media magnet – it has been featured in countless news articles and videos as a real-life “Gundam-like” robot.

Latest News (2024–2025): After the 2023 reveal, Tsubame has continued testing Archax and refining its systems. By mid-2024, the startup was preparing to deliver the first units to buyers in Japan (though it hasn’t publicly disclosed if sales have been finalized). Archax made international headlines via Reuters, Ars Technica, and other outlets, fueling global interest in large mechs. The robot even appeared briefly at the Gundam Factory Yokohama site in late 2023 for a crossover exhibit, symbolically passing the torch from the anime icon to the new real mech. As of 2025, Archax remains one of the world’s most advanced rideable robots, and its creators are gathering feedback from demonstrations. The project’s long-term success likely hinges on whether it can inspire enough interest (and financial backing) to evolve beyond the initial five units. But even if Archax remains a limited-edition dream machine, it’s already achieved something historic: it’s the closest a commercial robot has come to letting you pilot your own Gundam.

Notable Quote: “I wanted to create something that says, ‘This is Japan’.” – Ryo Yoshida, CEO of Tsubame Industries, on his inspiration for Archax. This quote underlines how Archax is as much a cultural statement (combining anime, gaming, and engineering) as it is a technical achievement.

Gundam Factory Yokohama’s RX-78F00 – The Life-Size Moving Gundam

Design & Specs: The RX-78F00 Gundam in Yokohama is a towering 18 m (59 ft) tall humanoid robot modeled after the original Gundam mecha from the 1979 anime. Weighing in at 25 tons, this is currently the largest functional humanoid robot ever built. Engineers gave it 24 degrees of freedom – joints in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, knees, and ankles that allow movement of the limbs and torso. The Gundam can’t walk freely on the ground, but it moves in place: supported by a massive steel gantry, it can raise and lower its legs in a stepping motion, kneel down on one knee, turn its head, flex its arms, open and close its hands, and even separate armor panels for dramatic effect theguardian.com. Each moving part had to be carefully engineered to be as light as possible – the team spent six years designing components to meet strict weight limits so the limbs wouldn’t buckle under their own weight theguardian.com. For example, advanced materials (lightweight metals and composites) were used in the skeletal structure of the arms and legs to reduce load theguardian.com. Hydraulic actuators and electric motors power the movements, fed by an external power system. (The Gundam is plugged into the dock structure for electricity and does not have onboard batteries; this ensures it has sufficient power and safety controls for each performance.) While its motions are slow – a necessity given the immense mass – seeing a 60-foot robot take a step and point to the sky is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Development History: The moving Gundam was the result of the “Gundam Global Challenge,” a project launched in 2014 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam. A consortium led by Bandai Namco (the franchise owner) and engineers from multiple Japanese companies and universities collaborated on the design. It took 6+ years of R&D and construction to turn the anime icon into reality, pushing the boundaries of robotics and structural engineering. The robot (designated model RX-78F00) was completed in 2020 and installed at Gundam Factory Yokohama, an exhibit space built on Yokohama’s Yamashita Pier. The “F00” in its model number is a special designation for this full-scale statue. According to the lore created for it, the Gundam is a reconstruction “from parts of RX-78 type mobile suits discovered after the One Year War” – a fun in-universe backstory for fans. In real-world terms, the project was a monumental undertaking, with numerous companies contributing expertise in robotics, mechatronics, and attraction design. SoftBank even provided 5G connectivity to enhance the experience with augmented reality (allowing live VR views from the Gundam’s cockpit for visitors). The Gundam was unveiled in a limited preview in fall 2020 (videos of it taking a knee went viral online) theguardian.com theguardian.com, and it officially opened to the public on December 19, 2020 – albeit delayed a couple of months due to the COVID-19 pandemic theguardian.com.

Capabilities: The Yokohama Gundam’s movements were programmed as theatrical “performances.” Roughly every 30 minutes, the giant robot would “activate” and go through a choreographed sequence lasting a few minutes. For instance, in one routine dubbed “Gundam Awakening,” the Gundam lifted out of the dock, took a step forward (one foot out of its bay), knelt on one knee, looked to the side, and pointed its arm and index finger upward – accompanied by sound effects, lights, and mist for atmosphere. In another pose sequence, it drew its hand to its head as if saluting or preparing for battle. The motion sequences were slow but steady – taking a step or kneeling a 25-ton machine must be done carefully – yet they were incredibly lifelike at scale. The Gundam’s hands and fingers can move, allowing it to make gestures. Its head (with light-up eyes) turns side to side. The entire performance is controlled by operators from a command center; it’s essentially a giant programmed robot, not autonomous and not piloted from within (there is no one inside the Gundam during movement). In fact, visitors could experience a “Virtual Cockpit” via a VR dome on site, which used a 360° camera in the Gundam’s head to show what a pilot would see – but the actual machine was run by computers and technicians. Each joint’s motion is relatively limited in speed – for example, it takes the Gundam on the order of 20–30 seconds to step forward or rotate an arm 90 degrees. This is intentional for safety and mechanical longevity. Even so, the engineering is impressive: the Gundam’s right arm alone is about 10 meters long and weighs over a ton, yet can lift itself and point without collapsing theguardian.com. It truly demonstrates advanced control of a large-scale humanoid system. Notably, the Gundam could not walk freely or independently; it always remained attached to its support tower via a backing frame. This support supplied power and served as a safety harness – a necessary compromise to achieve any motion at this enormous scale. As one observer noted, “This Gundam gets points for scale, but it loses points on freedom of movement since it has to remain tied to a gantry.” In short, the Yokohama Gundam moves, but doesn’t roam.

Purpose & Use Cases: The primary purpose of the RX-78F00 was entertainment and tourism. It served as the centerpiece of Gundam Factory Yokohama (GFY), a limited-time attraction meant to delight fans and showcase Japanese innovation. The site featured not just the moving statue, but also a Gundam Lab museum, interactive exhibits about the engineering, a Gundam-themed café, and a shop selling exclusive Gundam model kits and merchandise. The project was a pop-culture landmark – fulfilling the decades-old dream: “a life-size Gundam that really moves.” It drew fans from around the world to Yokohama’s waterfront. Over its run, more than 1.5 million visitors came to see the giant Gundam. Beyond entertainment, the project team hoped to inspire the next generation of engineers and creators. The Gundam was also a symbol of hope and resilience; during its final performance, messages like “Hope for the future always lies within you” were broadcast – tapping into the Gundam franchise’s themes of bravery and peace en.gundam.info. Unlike Archax or Eagle Prime, the Yokohama Gundam was not intended for any practical task – it is essentially a huge animatronic sculpture. However, the research and techniques developed (for balancing, joint control, etc.) could inform future large-scale robot design. It stands as an educational marvel: at the on-site Academy, visitors could learn how the joints worked and even try assembling mini Gundam models to grasp the mechanical principles.

Public Availability: Gundam Factory Yokohama opened on December 19, 2020, and was originally planned to run for just about 1 year. Due to overwhelming popularity and pandemic delays, the exhibit’s life was extended twice, ultimately staying open until March 31, 2024. During that time, any member of the public could buy a ticket to see the Gundam. Basic admission was ¥1,650 ($15) for adults, with an additional ¥3,300 ($30) ticket available to go up the Gundam Dock Tower – an observation deck at the Gundam’s shoulder height for close-up views. (Visitors on the tower could literally stand face-to-face with the Gundam’s head at ~15 m up.) Shows ran multiple times a day, with different sequences on a rotating schedule (e.g. one set of poses in the morning, another in afternoon/evening). Although you could get near the Gundam, nobody could go inside it – the interior is filled with machinery. Instead, the venue offered the VR “Gundam Pilot View” to simulate being in the cockpit. GFY also hosted special events, like light-up night shows and tie-ins with Gundam franchise music and voice performances. The exhibit became a must-see for fans, effectively a temporary theme park centered on the giant mech. After several extensions, the Gundam gave its final public show on March 31, 2024, closing with a flourish of fireworks and a farewell ceremony attended by Gundam’s original creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino. As of 2025, the Gundam is no longer on display in Yokohama, having been disassembled after the exhibit’s end. However, all is not lost: plans are underway to bring the Gundam back for future appearances (see Latest News below).

Latest News (2024–2025): The Gundam’s Yokohama run ended in spring 2024, marking the end of an era. On its last day, a crowd of 1,500 fans gathered to watch the final activation, which concluded with the giant robot bowing one last time in a dramatic send-off. The 18 m mech was then gradually dismantled. What’s next for this Gundam? There are strong hints it will return for the Osaka–Kansai World Expo in 2025. Bandai Namco has announced a “Gundam Next Future Pavilion” at Expo 2025, where a 17 m Gundam statue will welcome visitors. It’s expected this is the Yokohama Gundam repurposed (possibly with slight redesign or new armaments for the Expo theme). Indeed, organizers teased that the life-sized Gundam will make a reappearance to help celebrate the Gundam franchise’s 45th anniversary in 2024–2025. In the meantime, Gundam Factory Yokohama’s legacy lives on through documentaries, model kits, and data collected from the project. Engineers have invaluable real-world data on large robot articulation from this venture. Fans hope that someday a permanent installation (maybe even a fully walking Gundam) could be built – a daunting challenge, but the Yokohama project was a crucial first step. For now, the RX-78F00 rests in storage, awaiting its next mission. Its cultural impact remains enormous: the moving Gundam became an icon of Japan’s tech prowess and creativity, demonstrating that even a 60-foot anime robot can be made to move in our world.

Notable Quote: “When you make something big, everything becomes heavier, and the strength of the material becomes insufficient.” – Masaki Kawahara, Gundam Factory Yokohama engineer (via Inverse) inverse.com. (This quote encapsulates the core engineering challenge they faced – dealing with weight and material limits at giant scale. Every part of the Gundam had to be rethought to prevent it from collapsing under gravity.) Another insight: The Gundam team “started designing the robot six years ago to ensure each piece met weight restrictions to prevent its limbs from buckling” theguardian.com – a reminder of the extreme measures required to make an 18 m mech move at all.

MegaBots’ Eagle Prime – America’s Giant Fighting Robot

Design & Specs: Eagle Prime (officially MegaBots Mk.III) is a 16 ft tall (≈4.9 m), 12-ton piloted combat robot built by American startup MegaBots Inc. robotics.fandom.com. In contrast to Archax and the Gundam (which have anime-inspired looks), Eagle Prime has an industrial, tank-like appearance – fitting, since it was designed for robot vs. robot combat. Its hulking body houses a dual-seat cockpit and is mounted on a pair of heavy-duty tank tracks for locomotion aaltomies.wordpress.com aaltomies.wordpress.com. Eagle Prime is powered by a roaring 6.2 L V8 gasoline engine (430 hp Corvette LS3), giving it far more raw power than a battery system (though at the cost of noise and exhaust). The mech’s upper body features two massive industrial robotic arms, nicknamed “Heavy Lift Arms,” which can wield interchangeable weapons or tools. It stands roughly 5 m tall when fully upright and has a wide, tank-like base for stability. About 60% of its weight is in the lower half (the chassis and tracks) to keep the center of gravity low and reduce the risk of toppling aaltomies.wordpress.com. Even so, at 12+ tons, Eagle Prime is an extremely heavy machine for its height, essentially a small armored vehicle on legs. It was built with thick steel armor plating intended to withstand hits from blunt weapons. Top speed was not a primary concern – it moves at only a few miles per hour. Maneuverability comes from the tank treads which allow it to pivot in place. Eagle Prime’s design was iterated from earlier prototypes (Mk.I and Mk.II “Iron Glory”), making it larger, more powerful, and more balanced than its predecessors aaltomies.wordpress.com aaltomies.wordpress.com.

Cockpit & Control: Eagle Prime is piloted by two operators seated inside – a driver and a gunner. The cockpit, essentially an armored metal cabin, has seats with five-point harnesses (after lessons learned from earlier models) to keep pilots safe during rough motions. The front pilot (gunner) controls the weapons systems (aiming and firing the cannon, operating the arm-mounted weapons), while the rear pilot (driver) controls locomotion and arm movements for close combat. Controls include joysticks, steering levers for the tracks, and various hydraulic switches. Multiple cameras and sensors provide visibility from within the enclosed cockpit, though in practice pilots often relied on sticking their heads out when not in live combat. For protection, the cockpit has a welded steel roll-cage and was outfitted with safety gear like flame retardant suits, helmets, neck restraints, and shock-absorbing seats. Eagle Prime did not have sophisticated computer balance systems; it was largely human-controlled via hydraulics. Pilots practiced extensively to coordinate driving and attacking – effectively, the two-person crew works in tandem much like a tank crew. Given the machine’s weight and power, controlling it was challenging: “When we do appearances with Eagle Prime, I just remember constantly thinking, ‘If the engine stops working, I honestly do not know how I would get this thing back to the shop,’” recalled MegaBots co-founder Matt Oehrlein, highlighting the dicey logistics of operating such a giant robot.

Weaponry & Capabilities: Eagle Prime was outfitted for melee combat and long-range assaults (albeit with non-lethal weaponry). Its right arm could mount a giant pincer claw (inspired by a logging grapple) capable of crushing or grabbing objects with 3,000 psi of force. Its left arm initially sported a pneumatic cannon that could fire massive paintball rounds (soft cannonballs filled with paint) at around 130–160 mph – strong enough to shatter car windows on impact. In later demonstrations, MegaBots also attached a custom-made giant chainsaw to the arm, and even a drill lance, exploring various over-the-top weapons aaltomies.wordpress.com aaltomies.wordpress.com. The robot’s tracks allowed it to trundle around uneven terrain (it was demonstrated punching through walls and rolling over barrels). In terms of raw strength, each arm weighed as much as a small car and could deliver powerful blows just by swinging that mass. Eagle Prime’s systems allowed for pre-programmed “punch” motions: the team created macros for throwing a punch or swinging an elbow, since precise human control of such heavy limbs is tricky aaltomies.wordpress.com. Top speed was roughly 6 mph (10 km/h) on flat ground – similar to Archax – but agility was limited by its bulk. In the 2017 duel, Eagle Prime could drive forward, pivot, and use debris as cover, but it was far from nimble aaltomies.wordpress.com. Notably, Eagle Prime cannot walk on two legs – the legs are more like movable struts fixed to the tracked base, used for balancing and attaching arms, not for stepping. This underscores a general reality of giant robots: “We can’t have them walk around on two legs, because that is largely unfeasible,” as one analysis of the duel put it aaltomies.wordpress.com. Instead, Eagle Prime’s locomotion is essentially that of a tank with an upper torso.

Development History: Eagle Prime was built explicitly to fulfill an internet dream: a giant robot duel between the USA and Japan. MegaBots Inc., founded by Matt Oehrlein and Gui Cavalcanti, had created an earlier 15-ft, 6-ton robot (Mk.II “Iron Glory”) and in 2015 publicly challenged Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industry, makers of the 4-meter Kuratas robot, to a duel. After two years of preparation, MegaBots unveiled Eagle Prime (the Mk.III) in mid-2017 as America’s upgraded fighting robot. The project was crowdfunded and sponsored – they raised over $500k via Kickstarter and secured funding from companies like Autodesk, as well as a government loan. Eagle Prime cost an estimated $2.5 million to build. It debuted at Maker Faire Bay Area in 2017, where it dramatically punched through a stack of old cars to show off its power. The long-awaited duel between Eagle Prime and Kuratas took place in a controlled setting and was streamed online in October 2017 (though filmed earlier). The battle, consisting of two rounds, saw Eagle Prime eventually defeat the smaller Kuratas – using its sheer mass advantage and a surprise chainsaw attack in the final round aaltomies.wordpress.com aaltomies.wordpress.com. While the duel was more spectacle than sport (with pauses and safety checks rather than a continuous fight), it was a milestone: the world’s first international giant robot fight. After the duel, MegaBots had ambitions to start a whole sports league of giant robot battles, likening it to “Formula One with giant mechs”. However, those plans struggled. By 2019, MegaBots ran out of funding and had to shut down operations. Eagle Prime and the older Iron Glory were put up for auction in late 2019 to pay debts. In January 2020, Eagle Prime was sold on eBay for $29,900 – a tiny fraction of its build cost – to a buyer named Bill Payne, owner of Straight Up Racing (a U.S. monster truck show team). Thus ended MegaBots’ startup journey, with Eagle Prime becoming part of a stunt show fleet.

Purpose & Use Cases: Eagle Prime’s original purpose was pure entertainment and competitive spectacle. It was built to fight in an arena for the thrill of viewers, tapping into pop culture’s love of robots smashing things (think Real Steel or robot wrestling). The MegaBots founders envisioned a future where giant mech fights could be a pay-per-view attraction or live arena event, much like Monster Jam or BattleBots on a larger scale. In practice, outside of the scripted duel with Kuratas, Eagle Prime never got to compete again – no league materialized. Nonetheless, it did serve as an entertainment piece at various events. Between 2017 and 2019, MegaBots took Eagle Prime on a roadshow to tech fairs, comic conventions, and sporting events, giving live demos of it smashing junked cars or sparring with smaller targets. The robot’s massive presence made it a crowd magnet (despite the practical issues, who doesn’t want to see a 12-ton mech in person?). After Straight Up Racing acquired it, Eagle Prime found a second life in the monster truck circuit. Bill Payne’s team is known for running car-eating mechanical creatures (like a “Megasaurus” robot dinosaur) at monster truck shows; Eagle Prime joined this lineup. It has been featured as a half-time act at motorsport events, where it might, for example, pulverize a busted car with its claw or show off its cannon (firing t-shirts or confetti rather than paint now). This keeps the bot in use as a novelty attraction. In short, Eagle Prime’s use case evolved from competitive fighter to performer. It’s an example of how giant robots can excite and entertain live audiences, even if the “sport” aspect remains experimental. There are no practical industrial uses for Eagle Prime – it’s far too unwieldy and maintenance-intensive – but it proved a point: giant piloted robots can be built relatively affordably, and they capture the imagination. MegaBots also used Eagle Prime to produce online content (YouTube videos) for fans, further fulfilling its role in pop culture.

Public Availability: Unlike the other two robots, Eagle Prime was never on static public display nor open for paid tours. It appeared at specific events. Initially, one needed to attend a Maker Faire or special demo to see it. The famous duel was not open to a live audience for safety; it was filmed without spectators and then broadcast online. Post-MegaBots, now under Straight Up Racing, Eagle Prime can be seen at select monster truck shows mainly in the U.S. and Canada. For example, it might show up at a county fair’s monster truck rally, doing a demonstration. These appearances are usually advertised by Straight Up Racing on their schedule. Fans can’t pilot it (liability would be huge), but they might get to watch it crush a junk car or move around in a controlled area. Eagle Prime also occasionally pops up in media – it has been featured in YouTube videos (the MegaBots channel documented its creation and sale) and was even teased by famed tech personalities. In one memorable instance, Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos took a turn operating an earlier MegaBots mech at a conference – showing the crossover appeal of these machines. For the dedicated, it’s hypothetically possible to rent Eagle Prime for an event (as one could hire a monster truck show act), but that’s not a public offering, just part of Straight Up’s entertainment business. Essentially, Eagle Prime is less accessible to the general public than Archax or the Gundam was – you have to catch it at the right show. However, its online presence (through videos of the duel and demos) means anyone can witness its feats virtually. As of 2025, Eagle Prime resides with Straight Up Racing in the Pacific Northwest, brought out occasionally as the world’s largest (unofficial) “monster robot.”

Latest News (2020–2025): Since MegaBots’ bankruptcy in 2019, there haven’t been new developments on Eagle Prime’s technology – it’s a finished piece of hardware, now over 5 years old. The biggest news was the eBay sale in 2020, a bittersweet end to the startup’s story. Co-founder Matt Oehrlein publicly acknowledged the business model was flawed (giant robots are cool but very expensive to maintain and not highly profitable). He expressed relief that Eagle Prime went to “good owners” who could keep it running and give it the attention it needs. Straight Up Racing indeed has kept Eagle Prime active. By 2021–2022, fans reported seeing it rebranded and performing at monster truck events (often alongside a fire-breathing car-eating dinosaur robot). While not front-page news, Eagle Prime thus continues to do what it was built for: thrill crowds in bursts of mechanical mayhem. MegaBots Inc., for its part, pivoted to other endeavors – the founders launched a mobile game and even dabbled in NFT collectibles of giant robots, but no new giant robot builds have come. The original Japanese rival robot, Kuratas, quietly faded from headlines too, seemingly retired after the duel. Eagle Prime remains a one-of-a-kind artifact of that era. In the broader scheme, it’s a reminder that while building a giant fighting robot is possible, turning it into a sustainable attraction is difficult. Still, its existence has inspired others in the robotics and maker communities. And who knows – if the concept of mech sports ever resurfaces (perhaps with more funding or safer designs), Eagle Prime might be considered the pioneer that started it all. For now, its legacy lives on in YouTube highlight reels and the memories of the team that built a real American mech.

Notable Quote: “I think there’s something interesting about the slightly overconfident American trying to get a foothold in the robotics space – and doing it by building a bigger, louder, heavier robot, in true American fashion.” – Matt Oehrlein, MegaBots co-founder, on Eagle Prime’s creation. This tongue-in-cheek remark captures the spirit in which Eagle Prime was built – a bold, boisterous answer to Japan’s robotic prowess, fueled by youthful bravado and a love of “bigger is better” engineering.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Archax, RX-78F00 Gundam, and Eagle Prime

To summarize the key differences and similarities of these giant robots, the table below compares important attributes of Archax, Gundam RX-78F00, and Eagle Prime:

(Sources: Archax specs from Tsubame Industries and media reports. Gundam specs from Gundam Factory/SoftBank and Guardian theguardian.com. Eagle Prime specs from MegaBots and robotics wiki. See detailed citations throughout text.)

Future Outlook: Next-Generation Giant Robots and Upcoming Projects

The era of giant humanoid robots is still in its infancy, but the momentum from projects like Archax, the Yokohama Gundam, and Eagle Prime has spurred new interest. Here we look at what’s on the horizon for large-scale mechs and similar projects in development:

• Gundam in Expo 2025: As noted, the Yokohama Gundam is expected to return as a star attraction at the Osaka-Kansai World Expo 2025. The Gundam Next Future Pavilion will feature a ~17 m Gundam statue at its entrance, presumably with some level of movement or at least a dramatic presentation. This pavilion aims to immerse visitors in a futuristic Gundam-themed experience, suggesting that the life-size Gundam will continue to evolve as a spectacle (perhaps integrating new visual effects or interactive elements). Bandai Namco has hinted at “new immersive videos and demonstrations” with the Gundam at Expo. Fans speculate the Gundam may don a different livery or equipment (there’s mention of an RX-78F00/E, possibly an Expo-specific variant). After the Expo, there’s hope it could be installed permanently in another city (some rumors point to Osaka or even internationally).
• New Gundam Statues: Beyond Yokohama’s moving Gundam, Japan has several other life-size Gundam statues (Tokyo has a Unicorn Gundam statue, for example, though it’s static). Looking forward, there’s talk within Bandai of building new life-size statues of different Gundam models. These might not be fully animated like Yokohama’s, but each iteration pushes engineering – the Unicorn Gundam in Odaiba, for instance, can transform its appearance (opening panels) though it doesn’t walk. A life-size Zaku or other famous mech could be a future project, feeding the ongoing Gundam boom and tourism strategy.
• Pilotable Mechs for Consumers: Archax is essentially pioneering a new niche: high-end consumer mechs. If its limited run succeeds, other companies may follow. In Japan, companies like Suidobashi (which made Kuratas, a 4 m tall one-pilot mech back in 2012) could update their designs. Kuratas itself was an earlier attempt – a 4 m, 4-ton single-pilot robot that could drive on wheels and had a BB-gun turret. It was even listed for sale for ~$1 million back then. After the MegaBots duel, Kuratas went quiet, but the know-how is there if demand rises. Likewise, in the U.S., some robotics enthusiasts saw MegaBots’ failure as market validation that interest exists, even if monetization is tricky. We may see smaller-scale mechs (perhaps 2–3 m tall power suits) being sold for industrial or recreational use as exoskeleton tech improves.
• Exoskeleton Racing (Prosthesis & Xtreme Mech Racing): One exciting frontier is mechanized racing sports. A Canadian team, Exosapien Technologies, built Prosthesis, a 4-ton, 4-meter-tall quadrupedal exoskeleton mech designed for off-road racing. Prosthesis is human-controlled (the pilot’s movements make its four legs move) and all-electric. It set a Guinness World Record for the largest four-legged exoskeleton in 2022. The company offers pilot training experiences to let people learn to drive Prosthesis on a course – essentially like a mech driving school in Vancouver. Looking ahead, Exosapien is developing a new, lighter racing mech called the Exoquad VX1, described as “a motorcycle crossed with a mech suit,” aiming for greater agility and speed. Their vision is an X1 Mech Racing League where these exoskeletons compete on obstacle courses. If that takes off, we might witness the birth of a new motorsport (mechsport?) in the next few years.
• Heavy-Duty Industrial Mechs: In the realm of practical application, some firms are looking at large robotic platforms for construction or disaster response. For example, Hankook Mirae’s Method-2, a 4 m tall bipedal robot unveiled in Korea in 2017, was pitched as a test-bed for heavy lifting in dangerous areas. It had a human pilot controlling its arms via motion tracking. However, Method-2 struggled (reportedly extremely expensive and potentially a dead-end development). Still, the concept hasn’t died: engineers and military researchers are interested in large exoskeletons that could, say, clear debris or handle hazardous materials with a human in control at a safe distance. Future developments might see hybrid designs, like a tracked vehicle with humanoid arms (imagine a more advanced version of bomb-disposal robots, but scaled up).
• Entertainment Robots and Theme Parks: It’s likely we’ll see more giant robots as theme park attractions. After seeing Gundam’s success, other franchises could attempt something similar. For example, an Evangelion unit statue that moves, or a giant monster vs. robot show could become a reality. Companies in China have built large animatronic robots for park displays, like a giant Optimus Prime statue at a mall (mostly static) or even rideable robot-themed vehicles for tourists. As technology improves and costs (hopefully) come down, these could incorporate more motion. The drive to attract visitors with unique attractions might lead to arena shows – imagine a live arena event where two big robots (remotely controlled for safety) enact a choreographed battle as entertainment. This was essentially MegaBots’ dream; perhaps a larger entertainment company could refine it and make it safer/more repeatable.
• Advances in Humanoid Robotics (Boston Dynamics & Others): While not giant, the rapid progress of humanoid robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas is worth mentioning. Atlas can run, jump, and do flips – albeit at 1.5 m tall. The techniques in balance and dynamics that Atlas demonstrates may one day be applied (in some form) to larger robots. A fully free-walking 18 m Gundam is beyond current tech, but a smaller bipedal mech could eventually be feasible as control algorithms and actuators improve. Robotics research is tackling how to scale up legged locomotion – e.g., JAXA (Japan’s space agency) and others explore multi-legged machines for lunar base construction (not humanoid, but related challenges).
• Successors to Archax: If Archax finds success, Tsubame Industries or others might attempt a Gen-2 model. This could mean a larger mech or one with new features (e.g., stronger arms for lifting, or more speed). Yoshida mentioned ultimate goals of feedback systems where the pilot can “feel” what the robot holds, and capabilities to carry heavy objects for real work. Achieving that would push Archax from a novelty toward a useful tool. It’s possible they could collaborate with space agencies or disaster agencies in Japan to test the mech in those scenarios (for instance, try using Archax to move rubble or handle cargo in a simulated environment). So keep an eye out for Archax in field trials in coming years.
• Global Interest and DIY Mechs: The trend is global – from the US to Japan, Korea, and beyond, we see startups and hobbyists trying their hand at mechs. In 2023, a group in Russia reportedly bought Eagle Prime (though it actually went to Straight Up Racing) and there was online chatter about building their own. Likewise, Chinese inventors have built amateur giant robots (one made a 15 ft tall “Monkey King” robot for fun). While these often lack the sophistication of the big names, the more people experiment, the faster the technology might advance. We might even see a revival of giant robot challenges, perhaps between new countries or companies, as a way to generate publicity and national pride – much like how the US vs Japan duel captured attention. Player 3 (China or others) could enter the arena in the future.

In conclusion, the landscape of giant robots in 2025 is still a mix of spectacle and prototype. We have a handful of functioning examples – Archax, the Yokohama Gundam, Eagle Prime, and a few others – each with different goals. Moving forward, upcoming projects seem to diverge into two streams: entertainment mechs (for shows, parks, sports) and functional large robots (for work or exploration). Both benefit from each other’s advances. As engineering hurdles like power supply, balance, and control software are gradually overcome, we can expect the next generation of giant robots to be more capable, safer, and maybe slightly more common. Will we ever see something as agile as the fictional Gundam or Jaegers from Pacific Rim? Perhaps not for decades. But in the meantime, the real-world mechs we do have are inching us closer to that fantasy. As Gundam’s creator Tomino suggested during the Yokohama closing ceremony, the giant robot represented “hope for the future” – a future where humans and their mechanical creations can achieve the once-impossible. The giant robot dream is alive, and slowly but surely, it’s taking shape in steel and circuitry around us.

References: The information in this report was compiled from official project websites, credible news outlets, and expert analyses. Key sources include Reuters, The Guardian theguardian.com, SoftBank News, Time Out Tokyo, robotics databases, and firsthand accounts from the MegaBots team, among others. Each claim is cited with a reference in the text for transparency. These sources provide detailed insights into the specifications, development, and public reception of the Archax, Gundam RX-78F00, and Eagle Prime robots.