Giant mechanized rhinoceros beetle makes its Japanese TV debut

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]

[misterfuzz @ Apr 16th 2009 2:45PM]

Only in Japan.

[Jon Acheson @ Apr 16th 2009 2:58PM]

Then for crying out loud, don't call them "Nips." They consider that an ethnic slur.

[ugg.tryptophan @ Apr 16th 2009 3:39PM]

i never knew the japanese were characterized by their distinct nipples

[lawyer bird @ Apr 16th 2009 3:57PM]

It's not even walking...it's got wheels. LAME

[John Willaford @ Apr 16th 2009 4:36PM]

Blazing Saddles' is on tonight, but i don't think he was talking about the Chinks.

[Newone @ Apr 16th 2009 5:30PM]

Not only in japan, check out this prototype

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y&feature=channel_page

[Leo @ Apr 16th 2009 5:56PM]

FU lawyer bird, yeah it's patently clear that we were all thinking that, but this beast is certified: AWESOME.

[xconan @ Apr 17th 2009 1:05AM]

looks like an attempt to create a zoid insect... they must have found some metal zi somewhere

[Tyler Sidell @ Apr 16th 2009 2:48PM]

How much does one of these cost?

[Wwhat @ Apr 16th 2009 8:10PM]

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.

[OneLove @ Apr 16th 2009 2:48PM]

jimmy johns! jimmy johns!

[pika2000 @ Apr 16th 2009 2:48PM]

Cool! Real Life Kabuto Final Form Ride! LOL

[JO @ Apr 16th 2009 5:08PM]

haha decade is awesome. but this is even better than decade.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 16th 2009 6:36PM]

No way, dude. Insecticons FTW.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombshell_(Transformers)

[ImaYam @ Apr 16th 2009 11:22PM]

more like real life apocalypse!

[reddyroc @ Apr 16th 2009 2:48PM]

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?

[Zapp @ Apr 16th 2009 3:20PM]

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.

[sweet greggo @ Apr 16th 2009 2:49PM]

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!

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Apr 16th 2009 3:19PM]

At long last! Mankind has a defense against giant mechanized dung!

[rawrawrawr @ Apr 16th 2009 9:25PM]

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.

[Ebzy @ Apr 16th 2009 2:51PM]

I dont hate things which are awesome. I'm going to check it out right now

[Killiam XXIII @ Apr 16th 2009 2:54PM]

Looks like somebody was watching south park last night.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/220763/

Don't spend the space cash Japan!

[BigD145 @ Apr 16th 2009 2:56PM]

Are those Lego's?

[Juan Carlos Ishiy @ Apr 16th 2009 3:01PM]

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.

[404 @ Apr 16th 2009 3:43PM]

Either that or really desperate to be prepared for a zombie attack.

[Derek @ Apr 16th 2009 3:03PM]

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.

[Azlo @ Apr 19th 2009 10:58PM]

We'll it's a good thing that Japanese TV is taylored for American audiences

[Dave P @ Apr 21st 2009 1:05AM]

@ 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?

[tc @ Apr 16th 2009 3:04PM]

the beetle did not eat the green jacket guy.

unfortunately.

[mithinco @ Apr 16th 2009 3:08PM]

What a roomy interior!

[Leo Z. @ Apr 16th 2009 3:11PM]

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

[silentgeno @ Apr 16th 2009 3:38PM]

Anyone else reminded of power rangers or any of the other Japanese shows that had giant fighting robots?

[ugg.tryptophan @ Apr 16th 2009 3:42PM]

one step closer to live action Zoids

[Mike @ Apr 16th 2009 3:43PM]

And Paki's are from Pakistan so that's ok too, right?

Wrong. Smarten up dummy.

[Tristan @ Apr 16th 2009 3:43PM]

that is awesome

[Joe Anstine @ Apr 16th 2009 3:45PM]

....it looks like its made of legos?

[Eufouria @ Apr 16th 2009 3:47PM]

My dreams of becoming a Zoid warrior will finally be fulfilled!

[dsdshark @ Apr 16th 2009 3:47PM]

Wow. But is it battle ready?

[misterfuzz @ Apr 16th 2009 3:52PM]

Well, considering the next closest (real) thing to a Zoid would be a Roboraptor, I would expect so.

[Lekz @ Apr 16th 2009 3:56PM]

YES! The Gundams are next!

[Jon Acheson @ Apr 17th 2009 10:44AM]

I'm thinking Patlabors.

[omegahelix @ Apr 16th 2009 3:57PM]

Oh how sweet. He's built himself a completely useless Disneyland ride.

[Nathan @ Apr 17th 2009 12:59AM]

What a waste of money... there are kids starving to death and they make this worthless piece of crap.

[Chuck @ Apr 16th 2009 4:03PM]

It's not a giant beetle robot if it can't walk on it's own legs. Wheels = FAIL.

[Ayle @ Apr 16th 2009 4:06PM]

75 models to go before this becomes the pure awesomeness.

[Clyde Berry @ Apr 16th 2009 4:06PM]

At least our future robotic overlords will have something to crush under their giant mechanized feet. Other than us, that is.

[Richard @ Apr 16th 2009 4:17PM]

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?

[MeowR- @ Apr 17th 2009 1:24AM]

"Is the show just about impressing/entertaining the guests and recording their reactions? "

Nah. Stuff like that never gets showed on T.V.

[mugupo @ Apr 16th 2009 4:19PM]

This remind me the giant spider robot boss in Final Fantasy VIII.

[captainpease @ Apr 16th 2009 4:22PM]

This isn't a robot. That's like calling a tractor a robot. What the hell?