Giant mechanized rhinoceros beetle makes its Japanese TV debut
By Donald Melanson 
posted Apr 16th 2009 2:39PM
posted Apr 16th 2009 2:39PM
While it's certainly not all that uncommon to see giant robots wandering the streets of Japan, it looks like even the jaded folks on the Japanese TV show "Nanikore Chin Hakkei" were impressed by this massive beetle robot built by an Ibaraki man, who apparently spent a full 11 years toiling away at it. Of course, it's not a fully autonomous robot (thankfully), but it is able to be controlled from afar with a truly impressive remote control, or from the inside, which is fully kitted out with a spaceship-style cockpit and plenty of seating for passengers. It also isn't quite able to fully stand up on all those legs, which are instead used to pull it along the ground as some wheels provide a bit of extra assistance. Still, it's quite a sight to behold, and we can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't want to check out the video after the break -- unless, of course, you hate things that are awesome.
[Via NerdwithSwag.com]
[Via NerdwithSwag.com]
Only in Japan.
Then for crying out loud, don't call them "Nips." They consider that an ethnic slur.
i never knew the japanese were characterized by their distinct nipples
It's not even walking...it's got wheels. LAME
Blazing Saddles' is on tonight, but i don't think he was talking about the Chinks.
Not only in japan, check out this prototype
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y&feature=channel_page
FU lawyer bird, yeah it's patently clear that we were all thinking that, but this beast is certified: AWESOME.
looks like an attempt to create a zoid insect... they must have found some metal zi somewhere
How much does one of these cost?
He reportingly made it in his garage over the course of years, what do you mean 'one of these cost'? All depends on the price of the parts in the years that your are working on it.
jimmy johns! jimmy johns!
Cool! Real Life Kabuto Final Form Ride! LOL
haha decade is awesome. but this is even better than decade.
No way, dude. Insecticons FTW.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombshell_(Transformers)
more like real life apocalypse!
the builder looks so proud at the end of the vid, like a proud father watching his rhinoceros-beetle thing take its first steps. i still must ask... why?
Please return to your desk and resume your activities as a drone until you are disposed of. You were accidentally exposed to someone with purpose, drive, and meaning in their life and may now experience severe confusion and disorientation. These symptoms should stop once you are reimmersed in your unimaginative, repetitive existence.
Giant mechanized rhinoceros beetle
Giant mechanized rhinoceros beetle
Giant mechanized rhinoceros beetle
bom bom bom bom bom bom!
It's looks like giant lego and
It's walking by itself and
Don't that lady look surprised... YEAH!
At long last! Mankind has a defense against giant mechanized dung!
It looks like his car spent an unforgettable night with a lego lizard and a large bug. A shark came in towards the end of it all.
I dont hate things which are awesome. I'm going to check it out right now
Looks like somebody was watching south park last night.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/220763/
Don't spend the space cash Japan!
Are those Lego's?
Just to buy 15 tons of steel is expensive as hell, imagine how much he spent building this beatle-robot. This guy must be rich.
Either that or really desperate to be prepared for a zombie attack.
You know, I really hate these Japanese shows that have the little superimposed image of random guy in the audience's reaction. I don't care what facial expressions he makes.
We'll it's a good thing that Japanese TV is taylored for American audiences
@ Azlo
Oh, is that what Derek meant? Because I took it to mean that he really hates these Japanese shows that have the little superimposed image of random guy in the audience's reaction, and that he doesn't care what facial expressions they make. Then again, I usually just read the words that people actually write, not the ones you thought they were thinking.
Derek made a comment about how he dislikes the practice of some Japanese TV shows displaying an inset picture of people's reactions. It wasn't a statement about one culture being better than another (TV show formats tend to be poor indicators of a society's superiority). To be honest, I find it a little strange too. Then again, I find a lot of things about Japanese TV to be strange, which is why it's so fascinating and fun to watch.
Furthermore, I have no idea how you even determined that Derek is American.
This is a blog posting about a giant walking robot beetle. Wandering in here and making sarcastic anti-American statements without any provocation is the political equivalent of responding to the robo-beetle article by saying "PUT A FRUIT LOGO ON IT AND WE'LL TALK ROFLZ VISTA SUXX!". It's unwarranted, it makes no sense and it makes you look like an ass. Don't be that guy. Nobody likes that guy.
And PLEASE, can we get a video of someone ghost-riding this whip?
the beetle did not eat the green jacket guy.
unfortunately.
What a roomy interior!
Well I don't see what the big deal is, just looks like a giant robotic beetle-
HOLY SHIT THIS IS F-CKING AWESOME
LOOK AT THOSE LEGS JESUS CHRIST
IT'S LIKE THE MOTHERF-CKING FIST OF THE NORTH STAR
F- YEAH THIS BEETLE IS SWEET
Anyone else reminded of power rangers or any of the other Japanese shows that had giant fighting robots?
one step closer to live action Zoids
And Paki's are from Pakistan so that's ok too, right?
Wrong. Smarten up dummy.
that is awesome
....it looks like its made of legos?
My dreams of becoming a Zoid warrior will finally be fulfilled!
Wow. But is it battle ready?
Well, considering the next closest (real) thing to a Zoid would be a Roboraptor, I would expect so.
YES! The Gundams are next!
I'm thinking Patlabors.
Oh how sweet. He's built himself a completely useless Disneyland ride.
What a waste of money... there are kids starving to death and they make this worthless piece of crap.
It's not a giant beetle robot if it can't walk on it's own legs. Wheels = FAIL.
75 models to go before this becomes the pure awesomeness.
At least our future robotic overlords will have something to crush under their giant mechanized feet. Other than us, that is.
What is this show and what's the point of it? I CONSTANTLY see clips that make the front page of Digg and Popurls with the reactions of various Japanese people in the corner. Last one I remember off hand was the samurai cutting a BB in half as it flew through the air.
Is the show just about impressing/entertaining the guests and recording their reactions?
"Is the show just about impressing/entertaining the guests and recording their reactions? "
Nah. Stuff like that never gets showed on T.V.
This remind me the giant spider robot boss in Final Fantasy VIII.
This isn't a robot. That's like calling a tractor a robot. What the hell?
Its not even walking, it's on wheels, he cheated.
Good point. You should bust out yours and show everyone how it's done.
Oh wait...
Dude, it's BOMBSHELL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombshell_(Transformers)
someone extend this mans life-span and give him more money. this man will build our gundams!
Look closely... it has wheels...
I am no longer impressed.
You know, it mentions that in the article before you ever actually see the video. The fact that he got something that massive even MOVING with legs is impressive. Give him a few iterations of the legs, and they'll be enough to support the sucker without the wheels.
Its only a matter of time till we see Evangelion units running around.
Why the hell is the music so epic and dramatic?
Does it have lasers
missiles
Guns
if so...I'll take one!
so where's its Kamen Rider?
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=9849
Some kid with a long eyelash beat out the beetle robot for top prize, btw.
it totally looks like a Zoid! epic win!
KABUTOM RAGIO CONTROREA
That scared me.
According to the video, the man who built the robot is 60 years old.
In Japan, there was a random man in his late 50's, finishing up his 3rd generation beetle robot... Across the globe in America, there was a random man in his late 50's, practicing how to tell kids to get off his lawn.
You fail for not reading the title which clearly says beetle. You fail even more for putting a link to some site in your post. Unfortunately, you also fail in making your fail an epic fail, which would have been lulz-worthy. You just plain fail.
frigging sweet
"This isn't the future my mother warned me about."
これは確かにすごい！
coolなオヤジさんだ。
That thing is gonna destroy some crops...
Why is there always some guy or girl watching what we are watching from a small box in the top right corner in every video from japan?
I'm kinda dissapointed that it moves with the help of a wheel system. But DAMN if that isn't one step towards Robot Armaggedon. Congrats to the awesome dude who built it.
it's cool, I have been playing drone tactics on ds lately and it is totally out of the game
@Dave P
... uhh, what??
I don't know how my comment got you all fired up. But to help you relieve some stress, I'll put this in an easy format for you to digest:
1) Nothing in my comment even hints at me reading Derek's mind. For me to do that, I would obviously need to be face to face.
2) I'm all about Japanese TV. I think it's ridiculous and heartwarmingly animated. There's no way I could watch it all day, but it's nice to know it's there.
3) I'm American
4) I assumed Derek is American. My bad. It just really really seems like it from all his other comments on this site, especially when he states "I am so glad Cincinnati Bell rolled out Fiber to my apartment.", http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/time-warner-cable-lays-out-broadband-capping-plans-says-150-fo/
5) I'm a PC
5) (most important) Sarcasm bitch, get used to it.
Also, trying to breakdown, analyze, then monologue about a one-liner on this site makes you look like a troll. Don't be that guy. Nobody likes that guy.