Star Wars fans embrace new droid as cinema meets reality
The world has recently witnessed the unveiling of the G1T4-M1N1 droid, created by Piaggio Fast Forward in collaboration with Disney. This mobile robot combines features from the popular astromech droids familiar to fans of the Star Wars universe.
Once more, cinema has turned into reality. The new robot, designed to follow its owner closely, embodies attributes of the beloved Star Wars astromech droids—R2-D2, who accompanied Luke Skywalker, and BB-8. From this blend emerged 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 spent a year working on the project, culminating in a droid reminiscent of the well-known astromechs from the franchise. "We wanted the robot's lighting and sounds to be precise, as it was important for us that it could be identified from which period of the 'Star Wars' saga it originates," 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 detailed by the producer. "We decided that this model would enable the robot to communicate with its owner when something happens," explained Greg Lynn, CEO of PFF, emphasising that the droid is more interactive than previous models.
The G1T4-M1N1 astromech is a special edition robot capable of carrying loads up to 9 kilograms and following users on pavements or indoors. The manufacturer describes it as a loyal companion, noting that this model is quite agile and can manoeuvre 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 exploring planets, vehicles, and droids from the Star Wars world to develop an authentic G1T4-M1N1 story," Disney states on its website.
PFF, part of the Piaggio Group known for producing Vespa scooters, anticipates 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 now available for purchase. It costs over £2,300, but this price has not deterred customers, as the G1T4-M1N1 astromech is attracting 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 the further development of features in the future.
