World’s largest humanoid robot is too tall to leave its warehouse

A gigantic humanoid vehicle has been designed and built by a Japanese mechanical company.

Standing 8.46 m (27 ft 9 in) tall, 4.27 m (14 ft) long and 4 m (13 ft 1 in) wide, Sakakibara Kikai's beast named MONONOFU (meaning "samurai warrior" in Japanese) holds a Guinness World Records title for the largest humanoid vehicle.

Masaaki Nagumo南雲正章・開発課, one of the developers at Sakakibara Kikai, told Guinness World Records that the project took around six years.

MONONOFU is designed to resemble robots from various Japanese animation, and features a cockpit from which you can control all movements. It even has a lift that takes the pilot up to the cockpit from the ground! According to Masaaki, the company's initial plan was for something slightly shorter.

"We were thinking of around five to six metres. But because we wanted a cockpit, that height will not be enough," he explained.

However, the shutter of the warehouse where MONONOFU was being built was only seven metres high. When Masaaki told his boss about it, the boss replied not to worry about it.

"It was important to have a cockpit, as well as good balance such as arms and legs in relation with the body."

As a result you have to take the head off to get this record-breaking robot outside.

MONONOFU was Sakakibara Kikai's second large humanoid robot. Their first large-size robot - the LANDWALKER - marked the launch of their amusement business. Their intention was to bring robots from anime into reality. Masaaki himself was fascinated with the relationship between robot and animation, and wanted to replicate it in real life.

Although Masaaki had received the official certificate, he feels it will take a while to seep in.

"I still don't believe we've done it. Perhaps I'll feel the sense of achievement once I see the certificate displayed in our office."