Update: Apparently, the one put out by Bandai and the one done by the Kyoto student are two seperate Tachikomas. The Bandai version does not function as a full robot seen in the youtube videos. Still, I would love to have my email read by a Tachikoma.

Wow, I can’t believe I was in the dark with this news for two months! Bandai is releasing a Tachikoma robot (GITS:SAC) that you can hook up to your computer. It will read your email, play minigames, and do some other computer functions. The price for this robot seems to be quite reasonable at only $199 and will be coming out in February 2008. A couple years ago there was a prototype made by a Kyoto student, I guess Bandai picked it up for mass production? Anyway, I MUST have this!
bandai_tachikoma_1.jpg

Here is the prototype that was done a couple years back:

And this seems to be a press event for the actual product:

So please, help this tank find a home?