A former NASA engineer has designed a giant robot that juggles cars

In what looks like a cross between the fictional Iron Giant and a Transformer, this robotic beast could one day be juggling cars at an event near you.Former Nasa engineer Dan Granett has designed a 70ft (21 metres) tall robotic man capable of hurling heavy objects, namely the Volkswagen Beetle, at car rallies. Dubbed BugJuggler, Granett envisions a remote-controlled, towering droid that uses hydraulic cylinders to launch the vehicles into the air. ‘Moving beyond the car crushing robots of the past century, BugJuggler will use 21st century technology to perform breathtaking feats, including juggling up to three cars simultaneously.’ According to Grannet’s designs, an operator located in the robot’s head will be able to control its motions using haptic feedback, connected to high-speed servo valves. It will be powered by hydraulic accumulators – storage batteries for hydraulic fluid – which will allow for the smooth movement needed for the BugJuggler to throw cars or other large, heavy objects. BugJuggler would also operate within a ‘safety radius’, in case a car is dropped.