Best of Brooklyn: Peter Kokis’ Brooklyn Robotworks

They say one person's trash is another person's treasure, but Peter Kokis from Sheepshead Bay is taking that to a whole new level.

News 12 Staff

Jan 17, 2019, 12:58 PM

Updated 1,932 days ago

Share:

They say one person's trash is another person's treasure, but Peter Kokis from Sheepshead Bay is taking that to a whole new level.
Kokis is known for turning heads at the Annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade in his handmade robot suit.
The suit is made out of ordinary household items including a toilet flush valve and soup cans.

The former military pilot not only turns himself into his robots, but he's turned his art into a business called Brooklyn Robotworks. 

"There's no one in the world who does what I do the way I do it,” says Kokis. “I design them and build them like an aircraft with redundancy."  

Kokis tells News 12 he works on his robots on nights and weekends. One piece alone from “The Terminator” took him about 30 hours of direct construction, and he says an entire robot takes about 500 hours.

"With thousands of parts, this is not something simple that I gather; I am either in the gym or I am building a robot,” says Kokis.

He goes to the gym several times a week to keep up, because some of his teammates weigh nearly 200 pounds. However, he says it is all worth it. 

"I have different kind of crazy interactions when I'm inside of a robot based on people and it's people, it's just a lot of fun and very interesting,” says Kokis. “I used to be a bit of a shy guy; it was more comfortable for me to perform out in public when I had a helmet on, but the Mermaid Parade, now it is gone so hot that I go around with a helmet off now, so if I'm in front of 600,000 people I'm perfectly comfortable."

Kokis promises to return to the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island this year.


More from News 12
2:12
Stony Brook University professor arrested during protest speaks exclusively with News 12

Stony Brook University professor arrested during protest speaks exclusively with News 12

2:31
Cooldown with sun for Friday; chances for wet weather for part of weekend

Cooldown with sun for Friday; chances for wet weather for part of weekend

2:32
Residents organize rally to demand cleanup of Bethpage Community Park

Residents organize rally to demand cleanup of Bethpage Community Park

1:53
Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

1:39
Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

1:29
Students at Wyandanch HS take part in 'Shark Tank' competition

Students at Wyandanch HS take part in 'Shark Tank' competition

0:44
Top LI basketball players compete in annual Alzheimer's All-Star Classic

Top LI basketball players compete in annual Alzheimer's All-Star Classic

1:03
Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

0:22
Police: Man stole over $1,200 worth of clothes from Ralph Lauren in Deer Park

Police: Man stole over $1,200 worth of clothes from Ralph Lauren in Deer Park

0:23
3 Long Island health care providers earn highest safety rating on Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

3 Long Island health care providers earn highest safety rating on Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

0:35
Mets foundation partners with America's Vet Dogs to raise future service dog

Mets foundation partners with America's Vet Dogs to raise future service dog

1:54
Find the perfect dining spot on the Nautical Mile in Freeport

Find the perfect dining spot on the Nautical Mile in Freeport

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:21
DEC: 2 additional 'anomalies' found under baseball field at Bethpage Community Park

DEC: 2 additional 'anomalies' found under baseball field at Bethpage Community Park

2:05
'He didn't care about the consequences.’ Man pleads guilty to East Massapequa crash that killed 4

'He didn't care about the consequences.’ Man pleads guilty to East Massapequa crash that killed 4

0:32
Prosecutors: Shirley woman sold misbranded, adulterated weight loss drugs on TikTok

Prosecutors: Shirley woman sold misbranded, adulterated weight loss drugs on TikTok

0:26
Mets partner with Smithtown nonprofit to raise future service dog for veteran or first responder

Mets partner with Smithtown nonprofit to raise future service dog for veteran or first responder

0:24
Man, woman wanted for stealing wallet in Huntington Station

Man, woman wanted for stealing wallet in Huntington Station

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

2:27
Town of Hempstead IDA holds hearing on Hillcrest of Floral Park apartments

Town of Hempstead IDA holds hearing on Hillcrest of Floral Park apartments