In a move likely to be applauded by people who want a robot attached to their body that will serve them tomatoes while they jog, the Japanese company Kagome has introduced a robot you can attach to your body that will serve you tomatoes while you jog. From AFP-Jiji (AFP and Jiji are wire services):
Tugging a tiny lever in the foot moves the arms to catch a tomato from the dispensing chute. The arms then rotate the fruit over the runner’s head and hold it in front of his mouth … Despite its 8 kilogram weight, Kagome’s [Shigenori] Suzuki said he will don the device for a 5 km fun-run on Saturday
A competitor will wear a 3 kg version of the machine, dubbed “the Petit-Tomatan,” in Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon.
Says Runner’s World: “Though tomatoes aren’t typical on-the-run fare in the United States, the fruit is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that could be beneficial during a race.”
