GE Beetle

The Beetle was the nickname of a large mobile manipulator built by Jered Industries in Detroit for General Electric and ordered by the Air Force Special Weapons Center. It was designed to handle nuclear material for nuclear bombers.[1][2][3] Work on the Beetle began in 1959 and it was completed in 1961. It was built on a chassis from a M42 Duster. The Beetle was 19 feet long, 12 feet wide, 11 feet high and weighed 77 tons. The top speed was 8 miles per hour.[3]

GE Beetle
Type	Mobile manipulator
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	United States Air Force Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
Production history
Designer	General Electric
Manufacturer	Jered Industries
Unit cost	~$1.5 million (~1959) (~$13.3 million FY2020)
No. built	1
Specifications
Mass	85 short tons (77.1 t)
Length	19 ft (5.79 m) Arms: 16 ft (4.88 m)
Width	12 ft (3.66 m)
Height	11 ft (3.35 m)
Crew	1

In popular culture

• Gundam Century[4]
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain[5]

References

1. 1958-62 – "Beetle" Mobile Manipulator – G.E. Corp. (American)
2. The Beetle Robot by Jered Industries
3. The Real Metal Gear
4. Tadashi Nagase「強化防護服から宇宙作業キャビンへ」（GUNDAM CENTURY RENEWAL VERSION 宇宙翔ける戦士達. Kishousha. 2000. p. 144 - 146. ISBN 978-4-87777-028-0.）
5. 本物の『メタルギア』？ 冷戦中に建造された耐放射線ロボ - livedoor news 22 June 2010.