Japan's 'Ghost in the Shell' Inspires Real Robots

A robot prototype inspired by the Japanese anime film "Ghost in the Shell." Credit: Ghost in the Shell Realize Project A Japanese anime film that strongly influenced Hollywood films such as "The Matrix" has more recently inspired a real-life research effort dedicated to creating futuristic technologies. The "Ghost in the Shell" anime imagined a special law enforcement unit that employs cyborgs, robots and hackers to fight cyber criminals in 2029. That science fiction setting remains more than a decade away, but Japan's Ghost in the Shell Realize Project has begun unveiling research initiatives based on the film's vision of giant spider-like robots and "cyber protection suits" with some form of artificial strength for humans. The Ghost in the Shell in the Shell Realize Project officially began in 2014, according to a roundup of Japanese news sources by Kotaku. This year, the project held a small competition and award ceremony that ...