This manufacturer built a working Batman grapple in just one year

If you’ve ever watched a Batman movie or played Just cause, you probably thought “wow, using a grapple would be so much fun.” YouTuber Built IRL, whose name is JT, thought so too – and he’s been working on making that happen for a year. The end result is a grapple gun that works pretty much the same as the ones we’ve seen in movies and games.

As you will see in the video above, this new grapple is more impressive than many previous attempts. On the one hand, it’s self-contained – the entire unit fits its arm, including the CO2 firing mechanism that shoots the hook using standard cartridges, and a very a powerful 10,000 watt motor that is quite fast and can pull it completely into the air. (It shows a few previous historical attempts to build such a gadget, and definitely looks like his hook would win the grapple race.)

Unlike other DIY grapples, JT’s contraption can bring him back to earth as well. He can control his direction and speed with a wheel near his thumb.

Photo: IRL built

You can also see some of the real world limitations of a grappling gun, which Batman has never had to contend with since he is a work of fiction. The device can be difficult to control – in part because JT tries to use his thumb while supporting all of his weight with one hand. For the most part, he uses it strapped to a harness, so the impact of being pulled through the air can spread all over his body instead of being dragged by just one arm. (Just thinking about it hurts my shoulders.)

It also turns out that wrapping a grapple around anything you’re trying to climb isn’t as easy as it looks. Overwatch or Titanfall 2. This is especially true when pulled by something attached to your arm.

Despite the downsides, the device still works great for something this small, and it’s great to see a project like this come together. He’s also working on a web shooters version of Spider-Man, and his success with the grappling hook makes me think he might have a chance.

If you want to see the origins of the project, you can check out the JT video made with Hacksmith Industries in November 2019. If you want to see the whole build process, you can also check out this playlist of videos detailing the progress of the project.