A JAPANESE electronics company has unveiled a 4m super-robot that can be controlled by an iPhone.

But be careful with the jokes if you are phoning in instructions, as the robot, made by Suidobashi Heavy Industry in Tokyo, brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "trigger-happy".

"Kuratas" is fitted with a futuristic weapons system, including a Gatling gun capable of shooting 6000 BB bullets a minute, which fires when the pilot in its one-man cockpit smiles.

The four-tonne robot is going on sale for £900,000 ($1.35 million), but you will have to pay extra for the cupholder.

The robot can be operated either through a pilot, who mans the controls in a cockpit in its chest cavity, or remotely using the touchscreen of any smartphone connected to the 3G network.

The robot has about 30 hydraulic joints, which the pilot moves using motion control.

As the robot is made to order, the style-conscious buyer will not have to worry about sticking to the grey exterior - it comes in 16 colours, including black and pink, and for an extra $90 they will sort you out with a cupholder.

Engineers Wataru Yoshizaki and Kogoro Kurata were saluted in front of Kuratas with their pilot, Anna, when they showcased the robot at the Wonder Festival in Chiba, suburban Tokyo, yesterday.

The team have been working on the robot since 2010.

The robot's four-wheeled legs ensure that it is easy to transport and the pilot will be able to drive it at a top speed of just under 10km/h.

GALLERY: Four-metre Super robot will set you back $1.35 million

Pictures: Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP Photo

Originally published as Giant robot run from your iPhone