This is terrible news. Engineers in Japan have built a real-life version of that most-famous icon of Ghost in the Shell's cyber-futuristic style, the Tachikoma robo-tank.

Like their inspiration, this iPod-white prototype sports a distinct head-torso-abdomen design and rolls around on four spider-like legs. The vehicle (they call this one the "personal edition") can be controlled from inside with a joystick. A camera on the outside faces forward, and relays the outside view to a display which projects the feed onto the inside of the "cocoon," eliminating the need for a physical window.

How is this terrible news? The robot can only carry a rider weighing up to 60 kilograms, which means I won't be able to get my fat ass into that seat! Damn it all to hell. I'm going out right now to jog to the store, buy a copy of Sayonara Mr. Fatty! and a copy of EA Sports Active (I'll lie and say it's for my mom).

Hit the gallery for photos of this thing which I swear I will someday be able to ride, then hit the jump to see a smaller, more otaku-friendly real-life Tachikoma robot.