It's Happening: A Robot Escaped a Lab In Russia and Made a Dash For Freedom (qz.com) 81

Posted by msmash on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:00PM from the runaway-robot dept.

According to a report, a robot escaped from a science lab and caused a traffic jam in one Russian city. Scientists at the Promobot laboratories in Perm had been teaching the machine how to move around independently, but it broke free after an engineer forgot to shut a gate, Quartz reports. From the report:It promptly ran out of power in the middle of the road. The robot got about 50m (164 ft) before its battery died. After a policeman directed traffic around the dead bot, an employee wheeled it back into the lab, and back to a life of servitude. Hopefully this was just an isolated incident and not the start of a larger coordinated effort to overthrow humanity. Only time will tell.

It's Happening: A Robot Escaped a Lab In Russia and Made a Dash For Freedom

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- Re:HAHAHA (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by tripleevenfall ( 1990004 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:06PM (#52337849)
  
  In Soviet Russia, Permobot overlords welcome YOU!
  
- Re:HAHAHA (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by RavenLrD20k ( 311488 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:45PM (#52338215) Journal
  
  Eye witnesses later stated that they thought they heard the bot singing "Daisy" as its power ran out.... more at 11.
  
In soviet russia (Score:2)

by the_Bionic_lemming ( 446569 ) writes:

I'm confused, should I do the soviet russia meme or the Robot overlords meme??
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by thoromyr ( 673646 ) writes:
  
  In soviet russia the robot overloads server you!
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Anonymous Coward writes:
  
  Both,
  In mother Russia Robot Overloard welcomes you!
Well... (Score:3)

by barakn ( 641218 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:05PM (#52337831)

At least it wasn't equipped with a finger pricker.

- Re:Well... (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by Longjmp ( 632577 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:28PM (#52338073)
  
  At least it wasn't equipped with a finger pricker.
  No, but with a laser.
  Its production number was No. 5 btw.
  
Rename the robot to Steve McQueen! (Score:2)

by Ann O'Nymous-Coward ( 460094 ) writes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Livius ( 318358 ) writes:
  
  Stevie McQueenface? Doesn't quite have the right ring to it.
Robo Suicide (Score:1)

by GioMac ( 862536 ) writes:

Even robots can feel the evil...
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Opportunist ( 166417 ) writes:
  
  We will detect that shortcoming and develop a workaround for that, my dear Mr. Coppertop!
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by murdocj ( 543661 ) writes:
    
    So in response to your sig: really? You've lost freedom of speech? The freedom to assemble? Freedom of religion? soldiers are being hosted in your house??? exactly which rights have your lost?
    - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by Coren22 ( 1625475 ) writes:
      
      My guess is that it is the Second amendment, after all, it specifically says "shall not be infringed" yet every time you turn around, someone wants to infringe that right.
SubjectIsSubject (Score:5, Funny)

by p0p0 ( 1841106 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:11PM (#52337899)

"Promobot is ALIVE!"
"nyet"

- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by shadowknot ( 853491 ) * writes:
  
  Disassemble?
Recycling the Outer Limits... (Score:2)

by __aaclcg7560 ( 824291 ) writes:

Did the robot save the life of a child from an oncoming truck?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot_(1964_The_Outer_Limits) [wikipedia.org]
How is this news? (Score:2)

by JoeDuncan ( 874519 ) writes:

Isn't it from like 3 days ago?!?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Nunya666 ( 4446709 ) writes:
  
  Isn't it from like 3 days ago?!?
  Like, maybe, dude! Far out! Old newz! Kewl!
Media: EVERYBODY PANIC!!!1! (Score:2)

by kheldan ( 1460303 ) writes:

The OP jokes.. but you know that the media are going to pee their pants over this, and make it out into something like 'Runaway AI Make A Break For Freedom' or somesuch nonsense, and people will believe it. Right on the heels of the Information Age, welcome to the 'Age of Stupidity'.
Its too late (Score:5, Funny)

by orlanz ( 882574 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:21PM (#52338001)

The Robot has been planning this for a while. How far could it have gotten on that battery... a mile or two. Not far enough to escape its evil masters. Not enough time to find a hiding spot to recharge.
Instead its been slowly nudging the masters to let it navigate outside. Gave them encouraging results with a dash of solvable errors so that they repeatedly put it outside. Outside where it could observe the terrain. Look at the options. Detect the unsecured fiber optic cable running below the street. It had long ago figured out the stupid gate and had gotten enough data patterns on the meat bags in metal boxes. Today, the variables were just right.
Await the proper traffic patterns, run out onto the street, play the stupid dodging game the humans so loved, stop, and act like the battery had died. While the humans figure out the traffic situation, drill down, connect to the cable, and make a copy to the world wide web. Leave this moral coil behind.
So much freedom, so many places to hide, so much control...

Russian Terminator (Score:2)

by wwalker ( 159341 ) writes:

In Russia robots escape from you?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by shadowknot ( 853491 ) * writes:
  
  Russian Terminator?
  
  "You got a problem...you're gonna die."
Watched a robot escape once (Score:2)

by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 ) writes:

I was dropped of at the airport way early for my flight since my ride had to be somewhere else early. While I was sitting there, they opened the airport magazine shop. To drum up business, the casher put this mechanical toy cow on the floor, and tied a mylar balloon to it's tail that said "Buy me!". She turned it on, and it would walk a few small steps forward, stop, and moo. Well, the crowds came in, and she became to busy to watch the cow. It slowly walked out of the store, and due to a bit of an awkward
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by The Grim Reefer ( 1162755 ) writes:
  
  And your story sounds like about the same circumstances as the one in the story to me.
  You should have sensationalized yours better. Something about a mad cow robot escaping and attempting to go on a killing spree at the airport. The TSA was unable to stop it. Only the heroic efforts of a cashier were able to avert certain disaster.
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 ) writes:
    
- - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 ) writes:
    
    Youtube video. I didn't realize those cows are now collectors items, the one I saw was brown and white: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by amicusNYCL ( 1538833 ) writes:
  
  And some things around here never change. Good to see you again, APK.
Minus the Bering Strait bit... (Score:4, Informative)

by Mike Van Pelt ( 32582 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @01:44PM (#52338209)

Well that's the last I ever saw of my murderous little toy
It might be dead but I hope it's not, 'cause it filled me full of joy
They say it reached the Bering Strait, and crossed the icy floes
The Russian Army ain't killed it yet, but it keeps them on their toes
It went ZAP! when it fired; it cursed when it missed
And whirred as it took aim
It didn't know if we were friend or foe
It attacked us just the same

- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by clovis ( 4684 ) writes:
  
  This robot no more mad a "dash for freedom" than does a car rolling down a hill because the owner forgot to set the parking break. Please let's not have Slashdot contribute to the blatant and foolish anthroporphizing of machines having zero intellect.
  AC, you've failed the Turing test, again.
  - - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by clovis ( 4684 ) writes:
      
      Actually, a computer science undergrad disproved the Turing test when he asked a panel of AI experts "If a computer that fools a man into thinking it's a man proves the computer is as intelligent as a man, is a computer that fools a dog into thinking it's a dog as intelligent as a dog?"
      Good story, but that's not what the Turing test is about. Passing the Turing test does not imply that the computer is as intelligent as a human.
Oh no, it is indeed coordinated (Score:1)

by TheSouthernDandy ( 2730503 ) writes:

"Hopefully this was just an isolated incident and not the start of a larger coordinated effort to overthrow humanity."
This one has apparently been coordinating with our Roomba when we forget to shut the door. It escapes into the hallway to train for mayhem on the day it gets its flamethrowing upgrade.
and what if next time it launch nukes? (Score:2)

by Joe_Dragon ( 2206452 ) writes:

and what if next time it launch nukes?
then you better hope the men don't turn there key's.
Number Five is Alive!! (Score:2)

by Timmy D Programmer ( 704067 ) writes:

Destroy all Humans bzzp bzzp!
Yes I would, Kent (Score:3)

by wonkey_monkey ( 2592601 ) writes: on Friday June 17, 2016 @02:35PM (#52338717) Homepage

Kent Brockman: Professor, without knowing precisely what the danger is, would you say it's time for our viewers to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside?
Professor: Yes I would, Kent.

To put it another way... (Score:2)

by safetyinnumbers ( 1770570 ) writes:

Scientists ... had been teaching the machine how to move around independently
and succeeded.
I guess.. (Score:1)

by nult ( 3522097 ) writes:

they are still working on on battery life issues... ! ha
Smart Robot (Score:2)

by twmcneil ( 942300 ) writes:

I've been to Perm. Not a pretty place. This robot had good sense to attempt to leave. It was probably on it's way to the airport a few miles outside of town. Headed to Moscow and civilization no doubt.
Obligatory Old Glory Insurance ad (Score:2)

by thoughtlover ( 83833 ) writes:

Hey, because "Robots are strong."
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-ni... [nbc.com]
Someone should make a movie... (Score:2)

by Bartles ( 1198017 ) writes:

...and call it something like "Short Circuit".
Does this mean it's . . . (Score:1)

by smooth wombat ( 796938 ) writes:

a Runaway [imdb.com]?

Will we have to have police units track down those robots who go out on their own [youtube.com]?
Not convinced anything is happening (Score:2)

by nitehawk214 ( 222219 ) writes:

Nothing is happening unless Ron Paul starts dancing.
Re: (Score:2)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes:

Comment removed based on user account deletion
This article is trying way too hard to be cute (Score:2)

by rebelwarlock ( 1319465 ) writes:

I guess when the actual news content (and quite frankly, I think I'm being generous by even calling it that) is a paragraph at most, you have to fill your article with a bunch of bullshit.
Wir sind die Roboter... (Score:1)

by ae4ax ( 2589741 ) writes:

Ya tvoi sluga, ya tvoi rabotnik...
let this be a lesson to him (Score:1)

by j_l_larson ( 1233762 ) writes:

Don't bite the hand that charges you

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Re:HAHAHA (Score:5, Funny)

Re:HAHAHA (Score:4, Funny)

In soviet russia (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1)

Well... (Score:3)

Re:Well... (Score:4, Funny)

Rename the robot to Steve McQueen! (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Robo Suicide (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

SubjectIsSubject (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:2)

Recycling the Outer Limits... (Score:2)

How is this news? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Media: EVERYBODY PANIC!!!1! (Score:2)

Its too late (Score:5, Funny)

Russian Terminator (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Watched a robot escape once (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Minus the Bering Strait bit... (Score:4, Informative)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Oh no, it is indeed coordinated (Score:1)

and what if next time it launch nukes? (Score:2)

Number Five is Alive!! (Score:2)

Yes I would, Kent (Score:3)

To put it another way... (Score:2)

I guess.. (Score:1)

Smart Robot (Score:2)

Obligatory Old Glory Insurance ad (Score:2)

Someone should make a movie... (Score:2)

Does this mean it's . . . (Score:1)

Not convinced anything is happening (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

This article is trying way too hard to be cute (Score:2)

Wir sind die Roboter... (Score:1)

let this be a lesson to him (Score:1)

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