70ft tall car juggling robot planned

BugJuggler

When it comes to things we would like to see in our lifetime, a 70ft-tall robot juggling cars is most definitely one of them. So let’s all give this crazy group of ex-NASA and James Bond stunt engineers a big round of applause, because that’s exactly what they are trying to achieve.

The robot is called the BugJuggler, and as yet it’s just a figment of some very over-active imaginations. But if the team can raise the necessary $30,000 (around £17.5k) in funding to build an eight-foot tall proof of concept working model, all our car juggling dreams become real.
 

The proposed BugJuggler is quite a sophisticated piece of kit – we weren’t kidding about the NASA and 007 movie connections.

A diesel engine, haptic feedback controls and high-pressure hydraulics would make the BugJuggler work

The robot would use a set of hydraulic accumulators – which the creators describe as being like storage batteries for hydraulic fluid – to perform the rapid movements necessary for juggling large, heavy objects such as cars.

Hydraulic machines are not generally noted for their speed and agility, but the team behind the idea are confident they’ve got the know-how to exceed current industry standards.
 

A diesel engine would be used to generate the initial hydraulic pressure, and an operator in its head, using a "haptic feedback interface connected to high-speed servo valves", would control the robot.

A sophisticated stereo camera system is intended to compensate for the difference in scale between the operator and the robot, in order to make the juggling easier.

The team are also working on a "high-speed machine vision algorithm" that will track the trajectory of falling objects, assisting the operator and potentially allowing the robot to operate autonomously.

Any resemblance you may now feel it has to a terminator is entirely coincidental.
 

The BugJuggler is being proposed as an entertainment feature, perhaps at theme parks, casinos or stadiums, and its creators are actively seeking sponsorship or investment to support its development.

As well as juggling cars, the robot is depicted playing basketball with cars. Might we also suggest Ten Pin Bowling?

Here’s hoping the BugJuggler team secures the funding it needs, and gets this robotic show off the ground.
 

On Bing: see pictures of the BugJuggler
On Bing: see pictures of car-crushing robots
Ford employs robot test drivers
Jeremy Clarkson drives mad robot car on London Top Gear shoot
Toyota builds a Robonaut – and is sending it to space

By CJ Hubbard, Motoring Research