Japan’s Trash-Collecting Samurai Performance Team

To draw attention to littering in Japanese cities, the Jidaigumi Basara walk through streets armed with fire tongs and dressed in kimonos as they collect trash. Self-dubbed as the “Picking-Up Trash Samurai Performance Team,” the individuals move in choreographed action. Every piece of trash collected provides an opportunity for performance. The act certainly succeeds in gathering the eyes and ears of passersby. Read more at …

University of Tokyo’s Dragon Drone Transforms While Midair

Calling the University of Tokyo’s new drone the Dragon doesn’t just reference its form, the name is also an acronym short for “Dual-rotor embedded multilink Robot with the Ability of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformatiON.” Composed of several small drones, powered by a pair of ducted fans that can thrust in almost any direction, the high-flyer can autonomously change shape to navigate certain spaces. Watch a video …

Japanese Robots Capable of Building a Moon Colony

Japanese start-up ispace has a lunar rover in flight-ready form. It’s an 8.3-pound machine composed of a durable carbon-fiber body, dynamic wheels and multiple cameras. The machine has been designed to stow equipment, with the end game being development of civilization on the moon. ispace believes they can populate the planet, and build a parallel society where people in spacesuits can live. They refer to …