Could we actually build a robot the size ofPacific Rim‘s massive Jaegers?

countenance ’s face it , we ’re all deeply infatuated with gigantic golem , a scientific discipline fiction staple that includes such memorable mechanically skillful monsters as Voltron , Gundam , the Transformers , the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers — and even the AT - AT Walkers of Episode V. But none of these enormous mechas hold a candle tothe behemoth that was recently unveiled in the promo poster for Pacific Ring .

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Once our jaw were closed and set firmly back into place , we were forced to ask the inquiry : Could we ever build such a thing — and just as importantly , why would we ever want to ? We talked to robotics expertDaniel Wilsonto find out .

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And Wilson would be the right guy rope to ask . He bring in a PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and is the author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising , Robopocalypse , and most recently , Amped . Wilson is no stranger to robots and , in particular , the various forms and shapes we may someday be capable to give them .

And like us , he questioned the science and the rationale behind Guillermo del Toro ’s massive Jaegers .

The unmingled outrageousness of it

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A good space to start this investigation is by looking at we ’ve already been able to bring about .

As it stands , the magnanimous functional robot presently in use isVulcan Engineering ’s MegaBot . It ’s an electric articulated - arm production golem that has a reach of six metre and can clean up object as hard as 3,675 lbs ( 1,670 kg ) . It can spin 360 degrees and handle sales pitch torque up to 180,000 column inch - pounds . And it features an telling suitcase force of up to 9,700 lbs ( so be careful when you shake its hand ) .

Now , as impressive as MegaBot seems to be , it ’s clearly a far cry from Pacific Rim ’s monstrous mecha — something that ’s several order of order of magnitude greater in terms of both its size of it and complexity .

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Daniel Wilson told io9 that he does n’t trust a robot the size of a Jaeger could be built with the materials we presently have available — at least not on Earth .

“ A elephantine robot of that awing magnitude would be more practicable on a small planet with less gravitational force and made from in advance materials — nanomaterials or snake pit , light , as in a holograph , ” he say .

But as for our ability to build such a thing on Earth , he remained dubious . “ I do n’t know how any actuator would be able to keep such a gargantuan anatomical structure just in a high wind , much less move it with enough manual dexterity to take the air , ” he noted .

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Wilson ’s dot is very well taken . Assuming firm , lightweight materials could be developed , the sheer outrageousness of its proceed appendages would still cause tremendous strain on its mechanical parts . Managing all the various dynamics affect , including the robot ’s speed , acceleration , momentum , heat dissipation , and inner torque , would probably be completely indefensible . Even if such a thing could be built , it would likely have to move at an agonizingly impractical slow pace . Just suppose trying to slow this thing down once it got going !

Indeed , as Carnegie Mellon University roboticistMel Siegelnoted in his newspaper , “ When Physics Rules Robotics , ” one of the primary problems of robotics is dealing with any excess weightiness . Engineers are constantly drive the envelope of what ’s potential in term of size , often shape to prevent the weightiness of the robot to make it to collapse in on itself . This , among other reason , is whyHonda ’s humanoid ASIMOis so tiny at 1.2 meters in height .

And then there ’s the energy constituent to consider . After contemplating the amount of ability want to energize a skyscraper sized robot , Wilson quipped that it would “ require a hell of a lot of assault and battery . ” That allege , he suspect that we might someday be able-bodied to wirelessly beam push , use atomic reactors , or even have an in - sign power plant at study .

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The sheer impracticality of it

price is another important factor . It ’s fair to say that get together a fleet of these matter would be cost prohibitory to say the least . For reference , SciencePortalconducted a calculationa few year ago to see how much it would cost to build up a Gundam , a fictional 43 - ton humanoid golem . Looking at the necessary — a lean that included Al admixture , metal processing , a main calculator , petrol turbine locomotive engine , superconductive motor , and more — the Japanese science and technology researchers reason out that it would cost no less than $ 725,000,000 to build . And that ’s just for one Gundam , which would seem sheer child - like stand next to one of del Torro ’s Jaegers .

Now , perhaps the strangest thing about the Pacific Rim megabot — aside from its ludicrous size , of course of instruction — is the fact that it appear to be a humanoid mecha , outfit with blazon , legs , trunk and head . Clearly there must be a very sound reasonableness for this , as human - similar form would indicate function . So what , precisely , is this automaton supposed to do that requires bipedal proportion ?

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If it ’s armed combat against a similarly sized and equally proportioned foeman ( which looks like the typesetter’s case ) , then surely something more dextrous and brawny could be developed — something not so human . Would n’t something more tank - like , with a low-pitched centre of gravity and long ton of guns , be more pragmatic ? Humans are , after all , fair wimpish as far as physical combat is concerned . We ’re better build for other tasks .

Wilson agrees . “ Roboticists typically apply a humanoid configuration on a human exfoliation , because it allows the golem to operate seamlessly in human environments , ” say Wilson , “ So , I do have to wonder why it would be useful to have such a mammoth robot in a humanoid form at all , anywhere , for any circumstance — besides the obvious cool - factor , that is . ”

And on that detail , Wilson is potential on to something . The only possible intellect for producing a automaton of that size on Earth would be for esthetical purposes — an accomplishment of morphological applied science simply for the sake of date if it could be done . But as for it being something practical or helpful , that ’s more unbelievable .

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