The Transformers are about to make the leap from the big screen to real life. A Turkish company is building Letrons, real cars that transform into robots like Transformers, and they already have the first prototype in action.
You probably know the Transformers, whether from the classic 1980s animated series or the recent Michael Bay movies. It's known that Transformers are robots that transform into vehicles to conceal their presence on Earth. Apparently, this idea was so well received that a Turkish company, Letvision, is now building Letrons, real cars that transform into robots like Transformers. The company spent eight months building a prototype called “Antimon” using a red BMW, which is operated by remote control. Although the transformation isn't as dynamic as in recent Transformers movies, it at least looks real in the video.
When transformed into a robot, Antimon stands three meters tall. Unfortunately, the car doesn't have room for passengers inside and isn't equipped with machine guns or missiles, as many would like. Another downside is that Antimon lacks the ability to walk. Many of these details make us wonder, "Is all this a joke?" And it very well might be, since the video seems more like a promotional campaign to sell a line of toys with different robot models. But seeing Antimon operate and then transform certainly makes it seem real, especially given its slow transformation process.
Among other details, Antimon can rotate its head 120 degrees thanks to a motor and has a hydraulic control system for transformation. In addition to a sound system, an HD LCD screen, and WiFi, the car features a reactive camera for speech and movement functions. On the Letrons YouTube channel, there are other videos of Antimon transforming from different angles that are equally convincing. So we're inclined to believe the prototype is totally real. So far, there's no word on pricing or release date for these Letrons, but it appears Letvision intends to sell a full line of life-size toys in several BMW models that transform into robots.
