GITA-MINI personal cargo carrying robot follows you around to a galaxy far, far away

Fans around the world celebrate May the 4th every year as a pun on the iconic phrase “May the Force be with you.” It’s a day for marathons, cosplay, memes, collectibles, and sharing your favorite moments from the saga — from the twin suns of Tatooine to the rise of the Resistance. This year too, the unofficial intergalactic holiday was marked with Star Wars-themed creations, but none more special than the G1T4-M1N1 personal cargo carrying droid. That unusual naming convention is done using the alphanumeric convention of robots. If you swap the numbers for alphabets that most closely resemble them, it spells GITA-MINI.

The real-life droid created by Piaggio in collaboration with Lucasfilm is a part of the Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) robot fleet. These bots are designed to follow their human companion autonomously while hauling a load of things. Remember the Gita robot, the company debuted in 2022? The GITA-MINI is a loyal companion that’ll do the hard tasks of carrying things around for you. Be it your collection of tennis balls for the afternoon session of play or groceries for home.

Designer: Piaggio and Lucasfilm

Unlike its predecessor, the new version carries the intergalactic vibe fit for a galaxy far, far away. It is Piaggio’s special edition version of the cargo-carrying bots, complete with sound effects, lights, and decals that make it seem as if straight out of the Tatooine universe. Compared to the previous version, this is a much smaller and affordable option for people who have to haul a casual load. The bot self-balances on two huge wheels that keep its center of gravity well distributed. It can move alongside you at a comfortable speed of 6 mph, and autonomously keep aware of its surroundings. There are advanced sensors, cameras, and a radar system to avoid obstacles.

The mini bot can carry a load of 20 pounds in its belly for a distance of 21 miles before requiring a recharge. If the load is variable or less than the maximum capacity, it can accompany you for around seven hours. Of course, the maximum range will depend on the terrain and grade of the road. What makes this special edition version special is its Star Wars-inspired skin on the inside and out. It has droid decals all around and on the inside of the cargo section. To further enhance the sense of realism, GITA-MINI employs custom dynamic sounds of R2D2, including the iconic beeps, whistles, and chirps.

Depending on your movement, these sounds can represent acceleration, deceleration, or being around idle. There are lights above each wheel that flash in patterns in sync with the movement and sounds. These lights also indicate the battery level, or modes like parking or pairing. A companion app lets you keep a check on the battery levels remotely, or toggle the sounds to mute if you don’t want them in a quiet place. You can also stream music to the droid using the app, as it comes with a built-in Bluetooth speaker. Piaggio GITA-MINI can be bought right away for $2,875, but if you’re not a Star Wars fan, it would be better to go for the normal version that is $400 cheaper!

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