Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Ex-Marine builds robocop, sort of

Video: Ex-Marine builds robocop, sort of

posted at 9:42 am on April 23, 2008 by Allahpundit
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All robots are awesome in their own way, but does this really deserve coverage from CNN and the AP? It’s basically a Roomba with a water pistol and a loudspeaker attached.

At first, he walked around, indoors and out, with an assault rifle on his shoulder to scare away vagrants, but police told him to put away the gun. Then he used a spotlight. But the bar was still being vandalized, and guns were stuck in his face several times…

An environmental engineer by day, Terrill gathered the makings of his vigilante for three months. A three-wheel scooter gives the Bum Bot mobility. A home-alarm loudspeaker attached to a walkie-talkie gives it a voice. Its head is a former home meat-smoker. The red lights are from a 1997 Chevrolet, and it’s powered by four car batteries…

Bulky as it is, the Bum Bot is surprisingly quiet. Terrill always stands about 10 feet behind it and follows a routine. First he turns on the red eyes, then the spotlight. Then he has the Bum Bot warn that it’s videotaping the scene. Sometimes he has to call the police; usually people move on.

“I cleared out when I saw it,” says Matthew Williams, a 23-year-old who lives in a nearby shelter. “People are starting to get used to it. People leave right when they see it.”

Homeless advocates are naturally filled with heart-ache. Question: People were sticking guns in Terrill’s face before but now they flee in terror from a super soaker hooked up to a car battery? What am I missing here? Unless they think he’s a got a 12 gauge hidden in the belly of that thing that’s ready to pop out 007-style if anyone gets froggy…

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Question: People were sticking guns in Terrill’s face before but now they flee in terror from a super soaker hooked up to a car battery? What am I missing here?

Dude, the guy is building assault robots. You cant intimidate robots. Your firearms are useless against them. It’s not a super soaker it’s a water cannon!

Dash on April 23, 2008 at 9:47 AM

The T-1. A far cry from its T-100 decendant, but ya gotta start somewhere.

Tony737 on April 23, 2008 at 9:52 AM

All he needs to do is find a way to run an electric current through the stream of water from the super soaker, and the “bum bot” will have a little extra jolt available for the truly recalcitrant bums…

Lehuster on April 23, 2008 at 9:57 AM

“… they flee in terror from a super soaker hooked up to a car battery?”

Ha! Funny!

“Vengence,
from the grave,
kills the people he once saved.”

Tony737 on April 23, 2008 at 9:58 AM

Former Marine, not “ex”, unless he was dishonorably discharged.

PBoilermaker on April 23, 2008 at 10:06 AM

Former. Former Marine.

There is no such thing as an “ex-Marine.”

Professor Blather on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

Let’s hope it’s not like that killer robot in Robo-Cop — remember that glitch? That’s going to leave a mark.

Richard Romano on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

As usual, some homeless “advocate” wants it to disappear.
She’d rather have the drugs and prostitution at night.
What a “compassionate” thing to do especially for children.

maynila on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

Former Marine, not “ex”, unless he was dishonorably discharged.

PBoilermaker on April 23, 2008 at 10:06 AM

That didn’t take long.

Professor Blather on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

Former Marine, not “ex”, unless he was dishonorably discharged.

PBoilermaker on April 23, 2008 at 10:06 AM

Or his name is Senator John Murtha.

Sensei Ern on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

Can’t watch the video from work…but regarding the ’super soaker,’ does the robot have to whip it out before starting the flow?

James on April 23, 2008 at 10:09 AM

I presume the super-soaker can be loaded with Valu-Rite Vodka?

If so, there’s probably grant money over at Ace’s.

thirtypundit on April 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM

thirtypundit on April 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM

Homeless=Hobo. BONUS!

KelliD on April 23, 2008 at 10:22 AM

they flee in terror from a super soaker hooked up to a car battery?

I’m thinking super tazer! Soak ‘em and zap ‘em.

taznar on April 23, 2008 at 10:24 AM

Homeless=Hobo. BONUS!

KelliD on April 23, 2008 at 10:22 AM

Hobocop?

James on April 23, 2008 at 10:30 AM

ELDERLY HU-MANS! GIVE US YOUR MEDICAL PILLS!

Beware the Metal Ones…

pseudonominus on April 23, 2008 at 10:34 AM

I look forward to the day when the bum bot begins screeching on its own, “Exterminate! Exterminate!”

Rip Ford on April 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM

All he needs to do is find a way to run an electric current through the stream of water from the super soaker, and the “bum bot” will have a little extra jolt available for the truly recalcitrant bums…

Lehuster on April 23, 2008 at 9:57 AM

Respectfully, that won’t work. A stream of water isn’t really solid, as demonstrated on Mythbusters (see pissing on electric fence episode).

It’s actually a collection of fluid globules and droplets. Not connected enough at one time to conduct current, unfortunately.

But it would be awesome if it worked like that. Heh.

techno_barbarian on April 23, 2008 at 10:40 AM

I look forward to the day when the bum bot begins screeching on its own, “Exterminate! Exterminate!”

Rip Ford on April 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM

MirCat on April 23, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Former Marine, not “ex”, unless he was dishonorably discharged.

PBoilermaker on April 23, 2008 at 10:06 AM

That didn’t take long.

Professor Blather on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

PBoilermaker beat me to it. “Ex” to me means the complete severing of ties. I refer to myself as a former sailor when talking about my days in the Navy.

Kowboy on April 23, 2008 at 11:10 AM

Former. Former Marine.

There is no such thing as an “ex-Marine.”

Professor Blather on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

A trait shared by Marines and Texans.

TooTall on April 23, 2008 at 11:22 AM

Respectfully, that won’t work. A stream of water isn’t really solid, as demonstrated on Mythbusters (see pissing on electric fence episode).

Yes it will. Not with a super soaker, but a water cannon with a solid enough stream. Jaycor demonstrated this for the military:

Performance
The wireless stun gun delivers a high-pressure saline solution with additives to minimize the breakup of the beam into droplets, thereby maximizing range. Ranges of up to 20 feet have been demonstrated, while ranges of up to 100 feet or more are believed to be feasible with improved nozzles and fluids.

A high-voltage electrical signal with low current is generated in a compact electronic package with 9-volt batteries. The impedance of the water stream is sufficiently low that it cannot be relied on to limit current to sure-safe levels; consequently current-limiting resistors are used to limit currents to sure-safe levels. A single stream is used to deliver the current. The return path from the target is through the capacitive impedance between the gun and the target.

The stun gun can be developed in a handheld package for use on individuals, or mounted in a vehicle for riot control or military applications. Clearly, longer ranges and longer run times can be achieved in a vehicle-mounted configuration. In the vehicle-mounted configuration, substantially higher voltages and currents can be used to attack electronic targets such as vehicle ignitions, communications, and landmines.

Product Status
The product technology has been demonstrated in both the handheld and vehicle-mounted configurations. Large voltage and current pulses have been delivered to test objects at ranges up to 20 feet. No testing has been performed on live targets. Measurements of voltages and currents delivered to both grounded and isolated objects have been made.

Lehuster on April 23, 2008 at 11:30 AM

From the article,

“It’s a play for public attention for Rufus. He’s certainly got a lot of attention — but not the kind we need for housing, living wages,” says Anita Beaty, director of Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless. “This robot isn’t casting attention to the deep, deep poverty in Atlanta.”

Anita, that’s your job — it’s your reason for existance. Why would you want the BumBot to do it for you? And those guys being rousted by the BumBot are no innocents — given that O’Terrill’s was vandalized before the arrival of the BumBot, yet seems to be safe now — that says something.

My family was once in deep deep poverty — we couldn’t pay the rent, and the daily meal was a can of Campbells and a half loaf of white bread. We moved some place where we could get jobs, and we got jobs, even us kids. Of course, we stayed clean, wore clean clothes, and didn’t do drugs or any of that crap which might mean a permanent stay in La-la land. End of story.

unclesmrgol on April 23, 2008 at 11:52 AM

“You have violated Robot’s Rules of Order and will be asked to leave the Future. Immediately. Than-kew.”
– Firesign Theatre

mojo on April 23, 2008 at 11:52 AM

Homeless advocate: “I just think it’s a little freaky.”
Truly a compelling counter-argument.

joewm315 on April 23, 2008 at 11:55 AM

Lehuster on April 23, 2008 at 11:30 AM

I stand corrected. Thanks. Mythbusters may need to revisit that one then.

I can also see, in addition to the saline, the use of surfactants to lessen the surface tension of the solution.

That part about controlling unsafe levels is worrisome, unless the objective is lethality and not deterrence.

techno_barbarian on April 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Hello! … The dude walks behind the thing. Now, everyone knows the thing is nothing but an extension of the dude. So be careful dude. The gig is up. Homeless will target the dude now that they completely know the robot is like all other robots. A big toy.

ilitigant on April 23, 2008 at 12:10 PM

“The bum-bot is clearly filled with the AIDS virus” - Rev. Wright

kirkill on April 23, 2008 at 12:13 PM

It should tell the bums to kiss his shiny metal ass.
And water’s a waste of time. Let’s have napalm shoot out of its tube.

“You have 15 seconds to comply!”

Coronagold on April 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM

Former Marine, not “ex”, unless he was dishonorably discharged.

PBoilermaker on April 23, 2008 at 10:06 AM

Former. Former Marine.

There is no such thing as an “ex-Marine.”

Professor Blather on April 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

Aparently our numbers are great in the Hot Air community (something I never doubted). Although I have to disagree with Boilermaker on one point, I was taught that there was only one “ex” and that was Lee Harvey Oswald . . . for obvious reasons.

srhoades on April 23, 2008 at 12:37 PM

If you are sleeping outside and it is 40 degrees, you do NOT want to be hit with a super soaker. It is a great deterrent at night to someone who is sleeping out in the open. You will be miserable for the rest of the nigh.

crosspatch on April 23, 2008 at 12:39 PM

I suspect that the effectiveness of the soaker would depend partially on the amount of local “global warming”. Being doused with water in the middle of the night when you don’t have a place to dry off and it’s below freezing sounds like a whole lot of no-fun.

cthulhu on April 23, 2008 at 1:04 PM

crosspatch on April 23, 2008 at 12:39 PM

I see we were thinking the same way — but you beat me to the “submit comment” button by a goodly bit.

cthulhu on April 23, 2008 at 1:05 PM

If Hobocop can be programmed with off-the-shelf PC components to operate with more autonomy, then Mr. Terrill stands to make a sizable fortune from this product.

ScottMcC on April 23, 2008 at 4:05 PM

That part about controlling unsafe levels is worrisome, unless the objective is lethality and not deterrence.

techno_barbarian on April 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Lethality IS deterrence. ;)

Maquis on April 23, 2008 at 4:45 PM

Let’s build thoussands of gringobots and deploy them along the southern border.

ericfla on April 23, 2008 at 5:00 PM

I could see someone making a remix of this like the did with the Leprechaun or the whistle tip’s video’s (Whoo whoo!)

Chakra Hammer on April 23, 2008 at 6:32 PM

could see someone making a remix of this like they did with the Leprechaun or the whistle tip’s video’s (Whoo whoo!)

Chakra Hammer on April 23, 2008 at 6:32 PM

The whistles go…. whoo whoo!

whistle tip remix tons of them.. LOL

Chakra Hammer on April 23, 2008 at 6:37 PM

Hobocop?

James on April 23, 2008 at 10:30 AM

No- that’s a recurring theme over at Ace’s. Not a exactly family-friendly one either, so I won’t recount here why.

BillH on April 23, 2008 at 6:51 PM

I’m thinking that if he would make a secondary reservoir for that thing, one that would add a little, oh, Tabasco sauce to the water, he could use that for people who aren’t impressed by the plain water.

smellthecoffee on April 23, 2008 at 11:21 PM

but police told him to put away the gun

sounds to me like the “cops” are part of the problem

urbancenturion on April 24, 2008 at 12:18 AM

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