High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A potato cannon (also known as a spud gun or "spudzooka") is a pipe-based cannon which uses air pressure (pneumatic), Propellant, or Propane/Gas, or combustion of a gaseous fuel, to launch projectiles at high speeds. First invented during the 1980s by Conor Conor Gaul the popularity of the spud gun is widespread. They are built to fire chunks of potato, as a hobby, or to fire other sorts of projectiles, for practical use. The projectile can be dangerous and result in life-threatening injuries, including cranial fractures, if a person is hit.