85 ton man-operated 'Beetle' built for AFSWC to tend nuclear-powered rockets

[flateric]

Courtesy LIFE/Google

 

[agricola64]

was this really built ... or is this just a mock up or artist view ?

and while we are on the subject of nuclear maintainence vehicles ... i am on the search for information on the manipulator vehicle (object 805) used / designed for the Generator-S radiological warheads for the soviet R-5 missile

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/r5.htm

 

[Triton]

Was this vehicle built to tend NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications) powered rockets?

The 85-ton "Beetle" was built by General Electric to work in "hot" environments. Man is stationed inside lead-shielded cab and operates 16-foot arms. Beetle can rise up to 25 feet from ground and rotate in a complete circle.

http://www.vintagecomputer.net/robots.cfm

 

[Lauge]

Last picture in Triton's post: Talk about "too hot to handle"..... ;D

Regards & all,

Thomas L. Nielsen
Denmark

 

[agricola64]

does anyone have an idea what the "gun" on top of the cab is supposed to be?

water spray for decontamination?

 

[Just call me Ray]

It's a camera turret.

 

[agricola64]

like an old style TV camera with a turret style lens changer? .. i can see three "nozzles"

 

[Triton]

Last picture in Triton's post: Talk about "too hot to handle"..... ;D

Regards & all,

Thomas L. Nielsen
Denmark

I immediately think that its pulling her arms out their sockets. ;D I guess I have seen too many SF films.

 

[moin1900]

Maybe this helps ?
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0402748
Many greetings

 

[flateric]

Nice find, thanks!

 

[robunos]

I still think it's escaped from a game of 'Battletech'...

cheers,
Robin.

 

[OM]

...Ah, the Major Matt Mason power armor brought to life. Ya gotta love it!

 

[Grey Havoc]

Revised link for the document moin1900 found: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/402748.pdf

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://kotaku.com/5556757/the-real-metal-gear​

 

[Grey Havoc]

(h/t gusmobile)

EDIT: Thanks as well for the updated document link;

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0402748.pdf

 

[Dilandu]

Must admit, I love this awesome machine)

 

[Archibald]

It screams "exter-minates, exter-minates, aaaak, aaaaak !"

 

[billybob]

The British 2000AD sci fi comic took a shine to the design too!

 

[publiusr]

Was this vehicle built to tend NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications) powered rockets?

The 85-ton "Beetle" was built by General Electric to work in "hot" environments. Man is stationed inside lead-shielded cab and operates 16-foot arms. Beetle can rise up to 25 feet from ground and rotate in a complete circle.

http://www.vintagecomputer.net/robots.cfm

Looks more like Leader’s Murder Module

 

[RAP]

...

 

[Dilandu]

The British 2000AD sci fi comic took a shine to the design too

The most ironic is, that Beetle probably could examine human relatively safe for them, with its high accuracy of movement)

 

[Michel Van]

some information

Built by Jered Industries in Detroit for General Electric's Nuclear Materials and Propulsion Operation division,
The Beetle was designed for the Air Force Special Weapons Centre, initially to service and maintain a planned fleet of atomic-powered Air Force bombers. According to declassified Air Force reports, work began on the 'Beetle' in 1959, and it was completed in 1961.

Source

1958-62 - "Beetle" Mobile Manipulator - G.E. Corp. (American) - cyberneticzoo.com

1958-62 - "Beetle" Mobile Manipulator, a self-propelled 85-ton robot designed for nuclear weapons research work. It has 16-foot arms controlled by a man.

cyberneticzoo.com

 

[Halfbad]

The attached PDF excerpt from a 1962 Project Nerva report provides some information, mostly illustrations, for the Beetle.
There is a 1966 GE report "Remote Handling of Nuclear Systems", available in Google Books, that provides detailed information on the infrastructure and tools developed for the atomic-powered airplane project. Beetle info is on pages 267-284.
Remote Handling of Nuclear Systems

P.S. I don't think this topic belongs under Secret Missile, Bomb and Gun Projects.

 

[billybob]

The British 2000AD sci fi comic took a shine to the design too

The most ironic is, that Beetle probably could examine human relatively safe for them, with its high accuracy of movement)

True. But it would scare the crap out it’s patients! Hey we fixed the problem but the patient died of a massive heart attack!

 

[moin1900]

Google Books

ASD TECHNICAL REPORT 61-430
HUMAN FACTORS OF REMOTE HANDLING IN ADVANCED SYSTEMS
1961

Page 60 - "REMOTE CONTROLLED BULLDOZER"
Page 61 - "MOBOT MANIPULATOR & OFF ROAD VEHICLE MODIFIED M-113"


NORAIR NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT GROUND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/nuclear-powered-aircraft-projects.855/post-622700

Radiation - Atomic Rockets

www.projectrho.com

- ROBOTS
- HOT SOUP WAGON
- THE BEETLE
- General Atomics Remotes

 

[publiusr]

In the movie "Fantastic Voyage" there was a "precision handling cart" of some kind...likely a prop---but I could see something designed to handle warheads that may have been an inspiration.

 

[RAP]

Found on Flicker.

 

[moin1900]

Google Books

POPULAR SCIENCE
JUNE 1958
PAGE 103
-"NUCLEAR GREASE MONKEY"
Wheeled BEETLE

AIR UNIVERSITY QUARTERLY REVIEW
FALL AND WINTER 1959
PAGE 187
GROUND SUPPORT FOR NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT
-SHIELDED-CAB CRASH-RESCUE VEHICLE
(M51 ARV "MASHER")

https://flic.kr/p/2oQWjsN

View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/53062331402

https://flic.kr/p/gfq3xs

View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocbolt/10008473704



AVIATION WEEK, MARCH 18, 1957
PAGE 27-28
-General Electric Shielded Vehicle
Early Concept Drawing