Remember when we used to fantasize about robots trailing behind us like devoted pets or, even cooler, those iconic droids from Star Wars? Piaggio Fast Forward—yep, the Vespa people—has been noodling around with this concept since 2017. Their first stab, the Gita robot, was a nifty little carrier for your belongings. But at $3,250, it was more of a ‘look what I’ve got’ gadget than something you’d actually use daily. Then they shrunk it down into the Gitamini, knocking the price down to $1,850. Still, not exactly flying off the shelves at your neighborhood market.
Fast forward to now, and Piaggio’s gone all-in on the Star Wars vibe with the G1T4-M1N1. It’s essentially the Gitamini dressed up with Star Wars stickers and sounds, priced at a hefty $2,875. For that, you get a robot that can haul 20 pounds, run for 7 hours (or 24 miles), and zip around at 6 MPH. Plus, it’s chattier than its predecessor, thanks to some audio wizardry from Lucasfilm.
I took the G1T4-M1N1 for a spin over the weekend. Kids loved it, but my house? Not so much. The bot kept giving up when faced with obstacles, taking a nap instead of pushing through. And my deck stairs? Let’s just say it had a bit of a death wish. Piaggio claims it can smartly pause before taking a plunge off curbs, but mine must’ve missed that memo.
Flaws aside, there’s something here. Picture this: a stroll to the park, kids in tow, and this little guy carrying all their junk. Or maybe it tails you home after a grocery run. But with its current price tag and navigation hiccups, it’s not quite the everyday helper we dreamed of. Still, it’s a peek into a future where helper bots are as commonplace as your vacuum. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll all have our own R2-D2 sidekick. Here’s hoping 🙂
