It has walked 500 km between Tokyo and Kyoto and scaled the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and next month Panasonic Corp.'s AA battery-powered Evolta-kun robot will aim to complete a triathlon in Hawaii.
Panasonic announced Thursday that three versions of the robot — one that swims, another that pedals a bicycle and a third that runs in a hamster wheel contraption- will participate.
The challenge will begin Oct. 24, and Evolta-kun will attempt to complete the 226-km course within a week, recharging its three AA cells when necessary, company officials said.
Despite its toylike appearance, the robot will be tackling a real triathlon: swimming 3.8 km, cycling 180 km and running about 42 km.
The latest challenge is part of Panasonic's promotion of its Evolta line of nickel-metal-hydride rechargeable batteries.
