Star Wars dreams realized: Meet the G1T4-M1N1 droid
The world has just seen the G1T4-M1N1 droid, created by Piaggio Fast Forward in collaboration with Disney. It is a mobile robot that combines features of the popular astromech droids known from the Star Wars universe.
Once again, film becomes reality. The new robot, designed to follow its owner closely, embodies characteristics of the beloved Star Wars astromech droids—R2-D2, who accompanied Luke Skywalker, and BB-8. From this combination came the G1T4-M1N1 droid, introduced to the market by Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) in collaboration with Disney.
The new droid is interactive and can carry small loads
PFF and Disney worked on the project for a year, resulting in a droid reminiscent of the well-known astromechs from the 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, the 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 communicating, as described by the producer. "We decided for this model to let the robot communicate with its leader when things were happening," explained Greg Lynn, CEO of PFF, emphasizing that the droid is more interactive than previous models.
The G1T4-M1N1 astromech is a special edition robot that can carry loads up to 9 kilograms and follow users on sidewalks or indoors. The manufacturer describes it as a loyal companion, noting that this model is quite agile and can maneuver through tight spaces, avoid obstacles, and adjust its speed to match its owner's pace.
The collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. involved not only planning but also adjusting 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 reports on its website.
PFF, part of the Piaggio Group known for producing Vespa scooters, plans further development of the droid, even though it currently lacks a microphone for more advanced interaction. The droids are already finding their first buyers.
The droid is already available for purchase. It costs over $2,875 (CAD 4,000), but the price doesn't deter customers as the G1T4-M1N1 astromech is garnering significant interest, particularly among Star Wars fans. Greg Lynn also noted that customers are more engaged in interaction with the G1T4-M1N1 than with other robots, which could lead to further development of features in the future.
