Panasonic’s Evolta Robot Makes 500 Kilometer Trek In 2 Months [Powered by AA Batteries, Evolta Goes From Tokyo To Kyoto]

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Remember the Energizer Bunny? How preposterous its commercials were, how this little drum-banging bunny could go ridiculous lengths powered by nothing more than a handful of batteries? Well, we’re about to get our minds blown by the announcement that the Mr. Evolta robot has concluded its nearly 500 kilometer trek from Tokyo to Kyoto, powered by nothing more than one dozen AA batteries.

You read here previously about the Evolta Challenge, in which the tiny robot was sent forth to cross the mileage all on the strength of its batteries, but while it was expected to take until December 10th to reach its journey’s end, it actually managed to wrap it up about two and a half weeks ahead of schedule.

The robot operated under certain ground rules: it wasn’t allowed to walk at night, nor was it allowed to walk in the rain, and it was followed by human attendants to take care of things like lifting it up and over stairs, and was allowed one battery recharge a day.

It followed an infrared signal in front of it to figure out where it was going, and it even carried a dozen batteries in a little cart that it pulled behind itself the full 500 kilometer (or about 317 miles if you favor the non-metric measure) distance, follow the route from Japan’s new capital to its old by way of the Tokaido high road, which was once one of Japan’s greatest roads.

Mr. Evolta is reportedly the Japanese mascot of Evolta batteries, which it naturally used to fuel its long trek. Call this a publicity stunt if you will, or maybe just a sheer testament to the power of Panasonic’s battery line, or even call it downright inspiration if you’re up to looking for inspiration in strange quarters, but Mr. Evolta’s long, battery-driven voyage is definitely one for the books.  Or maybe just tech blogs like us.

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