Our Robots, Ourselves: Comments From Crowd at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Indicate State of Cultural Acceptance
Being a robot is hard. Photo: AUVSI.
What would you think if a giant 7-foot-tall, 350-pound robot came to your rescue? Some people might take any help they can get, but certainly many others experience the creep-out factor that automatons bring.
The DARPA Robotics Challenge asked the technology community to build systems capable of helping in a post-disaster situation, mitigating ongoing threats — crawling over rubble, opening doors. Some robots were humanoid, others seemed simian or even spider-like. And while that may sound like a walking nightmare, the crowd took to many of the robots like spectators at a sporting event, cheering them on, rooting for minute accomplishments, even heckling a little. Here are the top things AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems editorial staff overheard at the event.
“The next time I open a door, if people cheer, my life will be complete.”
“Homeboy’s gonna walk through!”
“It’s drunk.”
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“I’m scared.”
“It looks hurt.”
“Come on, buddy! You can do it!”
“Boston Dynamics, come rescue me! Help me please!”
“If he’s coming to save me, he better hurry up!”
“Robot! Robot! Robot!”
