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50-Foot Robot Spider Plans to Attack the UK on Friday
Posted by Sean Fallon at 4:10 AM on September 4, 2008
Commuters at Liverpool's Lime Street station need only to glance at a nearby office block to bear witness to their impending doom. What they will see is a 50-foot, 40 ton spider that currently lies dormant, but it is set to "come alive" on Friday. Apparently, the spider is a component in an elaborate bit of street theatre that will take place at various landmarks throughout the city—culminating in a "spectacular finish" on Sunday.
The BBC claims that it will be "exploring the city" sometime on Friday evening—which I interpret as "embarking on a rampage throughout the city, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake." And if you see 12 people strapped inside its steel and wood frame, make no mistake—those people are victims and are in no way controlling the 50 points of articulation. [BBC]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Luke
Posted September 4, 2008 9:30 AM
That's one of the mini robot spider tanks from the Japanese animation show Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex. Sweet. I thought they were filming a live action movie when I first saw the picture.
RE-L
Posted 4:36 AM 4/9/08
Damn. I kinda wish that was here in NYC. But I'd still need a bigger shoe, like Curves said lol.
RE-L
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 4:34 AM 4/9/08
Anyone notice web addy behind the spider. It contains the word "demolition". Oh please let this thing destroy a house like the one that almost got Spooner in "i, Robot".
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
lilaliendog
Posted 4:33 AM 4/9/08
someone needs to get video of this
lilaliendog
badhatharry
Posted 4:31 AM 4/9/08
@Ssscorpion: @Gann: Either way, it's much larger than the ideal size for spiders: Around 1/2" in diameter on the bottom of my shoe.
badhatharry
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 4:28 AM 4/9/08
@Gann: touche
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 4:28 AM 4/9/08
@Gann: You know, it's funny because I imagine someone just sitting there, slowly moving the pointer along the display looking for it. Unless someone from Giz just told you.
@Ssscorpion: It may just be a pop culture reference, like Attack of the 50-foot Woman.
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Gann
Posted 4:27 AM 4/9/08
@Ssscorpion: In a modern office building, 14' floor to floor is not uncommon, putting it close to 50' without its legs extended.
Gann
Gann
Posted 4:25 AM 4/9/08
@lldsandsll: The "at" button is still there, it's just invisible.
Gann
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 4:24 AM 4/9/08
Is Jon Peters have something to do with it? He loves spiders, like in Wild Wild West.
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
badhatharry
Posted 4:24 AM 4/9/08
Is the "spectacular finish" going to be Sean Astin killing it?
badhatharry
Overheal
Posted 4:24 AM 4/9/08
TACHIKOMA!!!! ;_; I missed you! <3
Overheal
Ssscorpion
Posted 4:23 AM 4/9/08
Not to nitpick or anything, but ... three stories high is a 30-foot spider not 50-foot.
Ssscorpion
urbanturban666
Posted 4:22 AM 4/9/08
will it catch people in its web?
urbanturban666
lldsandsll
Posted 4:20 AM 4/9/08
i can no longer @ people in here. i will go hang myself in shame.
lldsandsll
Jon B.
Posted 4:16 AM 4/9/08
@Aoi: I was getting ready to say that, woo for anime nerds >_>
Jon B.
Curves
Posted 4:15 AM 4/9/08
We are gonna need a bigger shoe.
Curves
Aoi
Posted 4:15 AM 4/9/08
Reminds me of the Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell.
Aoi
Notch Johnson
Posted 4:14 AM 4/9/08
Call the DOCTOR!!!
Notch Johnson
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 4:13 AM 4/9/08
Let's hope that the motors and actuators are fast enough so that it can catch people and cars.
Oh, and hot plasma webbing. Gotta have that.
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
cotr
Posted 4:13 AM 4/9/08
"culminating in a "spectacular finish" on Sunday"
giggity! thats what she said!
cotr
SleepingMartyr
Posted 4:54 AM 4/9/08
Now all we need is a US robotic monster, then we can really duke it out in a war of the ages-type of thing. maybe a giant robot scorpion or a snake. hey, maybe we can even bring in that crazy multi-million dollar super-magnet from a few articles down and take down that 50-foot fucker in a synch.
SleepingMartyr
videoCWK
Posted 4:49 AM 4/9/08
And then it somehow becomes a cell phone ad.
videoCWK
videoCWK
Posted 4:49 AM 4/9/08
I'm sure the spectacular finish is a giant shoe slamming into it.
videoCWK
NagChampa
Posted 4:48 AM 4/9/08
Right on.
Not sure why they created it, but hey, it's cool to break up the monotony life once in a while.
NagChampa
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 4:48 AM 4/9/08
@ClutchWarrior: From their website: [www.walterforshaw.co.uk]
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
ClutchWarrior
Posted 4:46 AM 4/9/08
The banner is www.forshawdemolition.co.uk I don't know if its because they're the one who hauled that thing there but I hope its because the spider will destroy everything in the building and at the end the building will collapse
ClutchWarrior
radikaled
Posted 4:45 AM 4/9/08
MF'ing TACHIKOMA!!! (o_Ox)
radikaled
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Posted 4:42 AM 4/9/08
Little Ms Muffet needs a bigger gun!
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Darascon
Posted 4:42 AM 4/9/08
@Git Em SteveDave is starlost: I hope you're right. Giant pyrotechnic spider death nova to erradicate something would be the best finish to this story.
Darascon
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 4:39 AM 4/9/08
@lilaliendog:
+ Watch video
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
AdmNaismith
Posted 5:17 AM 4/9/08
@Aoi: That's what I though. Too many legs, though.
AdmNaismith
TM-Oliveira
Posted 5:11 AM 4/9/08
@videoCWK: Hahaha... so true. I just wish its better than Spiderman 3.
TM-Oliveira
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 5:05 AM 4/9/08
@SleepingMartyr: And then we will have RobotJox.
+ Watch video
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
William Hook
Posted 4:59 AM 4/9/08
Oh fuck, we're doomed.
William Hook
zenpoet
Posted 5:27 AM 4/9/08
Has anyone contacted Will Smith yet? I would bet he is the only one qualified to stop this thing.
zenpoet
Barum
Posted 5:27 AM 4/9/08
@Ssscorpion: 1 storey = 15 feet... So, 50 feet is pretty close.
Barum
jook
Posted 5:25 AM 4/9/08
It's a Tachikoma! Hurray!
jook
zayden
Posted 5:25 AM 4/9/08
Really surprised this isn't being done in Japan as usual.
zayden
McLucky
Posted 5:24 AM 4/9/08
40 tons! Come on, there's no way they could hang 40 tons off the side of a building.
McLucky
lldsandsll
Posted 5:57 AM 4/9/08
@gann: u got me
@kaiser machead: i actually did hover around for about 2 seconds lol.
now i'm improvising, take that! seriously, what'd i do? did i get myself in trouble?
lldsandsll
Rhainor
Posted 5:52 AM 4/9/08
@Ssscorpion: In addition to what Kaiser-whatever and Barum said above, its legs look to be curled under its body in this pic.
Rhainor
Robobagins
Posted 5:40 AM 4/9/08
Get me Kusangi! Just what the hell is Section 9 up to?!
Robobagins
Hvedhrungr
Posted 5:38 AM 4/9/08
Eight-legged Freaks meets Robocop in Trainspotting 2. It's all just one big trip.
Hvedhrungr
theblackdog
Posted 6:11 AM 4/9/08
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought of a Tachikoma when I saw the pic.
theblackdog
lldsandsll
Posted 5:59 AM 4/9/08
@Gann:
@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge:
wait, it really is invisible! jokes on me!!!
lldsandsll
godwhacker
Posted 6:49 AM 4/9/08
name the band!!!!!
lime street* in the afternoon
everyone crazy as a loon
i'm runnin 'round in my underpants
trying to find a girl to romance
*my on topic two words
godwhacker
Darkest Daze
Posted 7:05 AM 4/9/08
So, THIS is what happens when you give one natural oil for too long.
Darkest Daze
Chiper
Posted 7:49 AM 4/9/08
I'm gonna follow through on what two other people already mentioned. This thing is totally a tachicoma, although it the coloring is more like the big brother version that went rampant in GitS:SC season 1.
Chiper
lordargent
Posted 7:45 AM 4/9/08
Earth Defense Force 2017 anyone?
lordargent
kanon
Posted 10:27 AM 4/9/08
@Darascon: Naw, the spider will demolish something with style, pizazz, and a small tactical nuke.
Although am surprised that the Brits were the first ones to make a mech and not the Japanese.
kanon
KristenBal
Posted 11:30 AM 4/9/08
Ok, i gotta be honest, when I saw the pic, I shat bricks!!!!
Damn arachnophobia of mine (hope i wrote that one right, xD)
KristenBal
B.Zanetti
Posted 12:38 PM 4/9/08
@Git Em SteveDave is starlost: haha, yeah!! I heard that, that story was crazy. I think of that whenever i see giant spiders. or think about the Wild Wild West. or steampunk. so probably more than i should. thanks gizmodo...
B.Zanetti
Mr.Wilson
Posted 3:07 PM 4/9/08
Hmm, first idea was maybe somehow my mental thoughts came true, but A)Tt looks too low tech, and B) It wouldn't just be staying still, it've gotten on the ground already and would be growling and glowing it's red eye lights. Not to mention there wouldn't be just one! So easy to remember this, yet I can't make a story worth publishing yet!
Mr.Wilson
RedEye
Posted 7:11 PM 4/9/08
I think it could be good. Wish i could get up there to watch.
This is what the same people did a few years back in London.
+ Watch video
RedEye
TheTimeisback
Posted 3:19 AM 5/9/08
@Notch Johnson: Doctor Who?
TheTimeisback
Atriel
Posted 2:36 AM 6/9/08
@Aoi: I know, right! That's what I thought when I first saw it.
Atriel
PirateSean
Posted 7:41 AM 4/9/08
This is taking part in Liverpool as part of their European Capital of Culture year. It was created by La Machine, who also did a parade in London a couple years back called the Sultans Elephant.
Here is an early video of La Princess (the "50ft" spider) in motion [www.dailymotion.com]
PirateSean
cykey
Posted 7:54 AM 4/9/08
@Chiper - When its legs are extended its different to a tachikoma, but yer when I saw this today I did think it looked sorta like it.
cykey
cykey
Posted 7:38 AM 4/9/08
I'm a photoblogger in Liverpool and I'm currently documenting this. On Friday its going to get up and walk around. Its 50 feet high and 37 tonnes. Here's a photo from today - [www.vanilladays.com] Its going to be a spectacular event with all sorts of special effects.
cykey