almeno nelle versioni più primitive.
Built by Jered Industries in Detroit for General Electric's Nuclear Materials and Propulsion Operation division, the Beetle was a piloted heavy machine designed for the United States Air Force Special Weapons Centre, intended to service and maintain a planned fleet of atomic-powered Air Force bombers. The development of the project began in 1959, and it was completed in 1961.
The Beetle was 19 feet long, 12 feet wide, 11 feet high. A heavy machine weighed 77 tons.
Powered by a 500hp engine, the Beetle could, on a flat surface, reach a top speed of 8 miles per hour.
On the inside of the cockpit, despite cramped conditions, the pilot had some degree of comfort, with a small TV set, air conditioning and even an ashtray.
the robot was also capable of reaching great heights. The cabin, which housed the cockpit and arms, was able to be raised on four hydraulic pistons, and when fully extended the Beetle stood an imposing 27 feet off the ground
Yet despite this raw power, it could also perform incredibly delicate operations. At a public demonstration in 1962, for example, the Beetle was able to roll up to a carton of eggs, pick a single egg up and hold it in its pincers without breaking it.
interessante, nevvero?