New G1T4-M1N1 droid: A Star Wars dream brought to life
The world has just been introduced to the G1T4-M1N1 droid, created by Piaggio Fast Forward in collaboration with Disney. This mobile robot combines features from the popular astromech droids of the Star Wars universe.
Once again, film becomes reality. The new robot, designed to faithfully follow its owner, embodies characteristics of the beloved Star Wars astromech droids—particularly R2-D2, who accompanied Luke Skywalker, and BB-8. This collaboration has resulted in the G1T4-M1N1 droid, launched by Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) with Disney's partnership.
The new droid is interactive and can carry small loads
PFF and Disney collaborated for a year to bring this droid to life, capturing the essence of the astromechs from the Star Wars universe. "We wanted to get the lighting and the sounds right, and it was important that we identified which period [of the Star Wars saga] it came from," said Greg Lynn, CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward.
The G1T4-M1N1 droid is equipped with a library of 22 sounds that signal various events, such as pairing with a phone, charging, or general communication, according to the producer. "We decided for this model to let the robot communicate with its leader when things were happening," explained Greg Lynn, highlighting that the droid is more interactive than previous models.
The G1T4-M1N1 astromech is a special edition robot capable of carrying loads up to 20 pounds and can follow users on sidewalks or indoors. The manufacturer describes it as a loyal companion, emphasizing its agility in navigating tight spaces, avoiding obstacles, and adjusting its pace to match its owner.
The collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. involved not only strategic planning but also fine-tuning the software and user interface. "When designing our interpretation of an Astromech Droid, we began by studying the planets, vehicles and Droids of the Star Wars universe to develop an authentic backstory for G1T4-M1N1," Disney notes on its website.
PFF, part of the Piaggio Group known for producing Vespa scooters, is planning further development of the droid, even though it currently lacks a microphone for more advanced interaction. The droids have already attracted their first customers.
Currently available for purchase, the droid is priced at over $2,875. This substantial cost hasn't deterred buyers, as the G1T4-M1N1 astromech is generating significant interest, especially among Star Wars fans. Greg Lynn noted that customers are more actively engaged with the G1T4-M1N1 than with other robots, which could pave the way for further feature development in the future.
