Chinese Engineer Builds 5.5-Ton Robot Arm to Smash Car in Viral Video

Fan Shisan, a prominent engineering influencer based in Sichuan, China, and creator of the YouTube channel “Sword Man Fan 13”, has once again captured attention with an ambitious new project—a colossal remote-controlled robot arm weighing 5.5 tons.

In a video description, Fan announced the creation with a bold claim:

“I built a 5,000 kg [5.51 ton] giant robot arm just to see if my friend could survive the ultimate slap! This beast is fully articulated and ready for action. Watch until the end to see the massive uppercut that literally shocked everyone. This is the most insane DIY engineering project I’ve ever filmed!”

How the Giant Robot Arm Works

The robot arm, mounted on a rotating base, swings side to side and features four articulated fingers controlled via a hand-mounted device. The thumb can also flap up and down, adding to its lifelike movements.

Fan demonstrated the arm’s power by slapping a Volvo XC70, triggering the car’s emergency SOS mode in the process. The impact was exaggerated for dramatic effect, as the video appears to use sped-up footage.

From Fixed Base to Mobile Powerhouse

In the next sequence, the arm was detached from its base and powered by a combustion engine, allowing Fan to deliver a direct, knockout blow to the Volvo. The final act featured well-edited clips of the arm landing uppercuts on the car, sending it tumbling down a hill.

While the mechanics behind this sequence remain unclear, some Redditors speculated that the team may have used a suspended battering ram or a crane setup to achieve the effect.

Aftermath: A Totaled Volvo

By the end of the video, the Volvo XC70 was completely destroyed—windows shattered, chassis crushed, and body mangled beyond repair. While the video employs cinematic effects to enhance the robot arm’s sophistication, it remains an impressive feat of DIY engineering and a testament to Fan’s creativity.

For more on robotics innovations, check out our coverage of strange modular robots reshaping landscapes.