Texas man tests 'candy cannon' for socially distant trick-or-treat video series
AUSTIN, Texas - Software engineer Luke Keyes, who lives in Austin, is embracing socially distanced trick-or-treating by testing a variety of methods to deliver candy with minimal contact as a coronavirus safety precaution. He says he has been toying with several ideas this year, including a candy launcher, a drone, and even a robot delivery system.
Keyes said he and his wife, Michele Benedisuk, “really love” Halloween, adding that her family would host a “haunted garage” experience each year.
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The couple has put their own twist on Benedisuk’s Halloween tradition, holding annual “Haunted Science Labs” out of their garage. Keyes said their spooky science labs drew “about a hundred people” last year.
“We built a reputation in the neighborhood, and this year some of the neighborhood kids would ask about what it was going to be like,” Keyes told Storyful.
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Keyes said he and his wife “were torn” about what to do this Halloween in light of the pandemic. They ultimately decided not to hold a haunted garage and instead planned to create a video series demonstrating socially distanced trick-or-treating methods.
This footage shows Keyes sending treats sky-high with his PVC-pipe “Candy Cannon” for the first part of his series.
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Keyes said the Candy Cannon was originally a confetti launcher he built for his wedding and it has since been used on Easter, birthdays, and other special occasions. Keyes said while the Candy Cannon is a fun concept, he won’t be using it on Halloween as it’s “unpredictable and a little dangerous.”
Keyes said his robot Artie will “definitely” deliver candy on Halloween, and he’s hoping to conjure up a second robot in time for additional deliveries.