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Grex Agora41 Item 291: Gaak, the Individual
Entered by oval on Thu Jun 20 17:52:32 UTC 2002:

'Thinking' robot in escape bid

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/06/20/1023864460978.html

By Dave Higgens 
London 
June 20 2002


Scientists running a pioneering experiment with "living robots" which think
for themselves today said they were amazed to find one escaping from the
centre where
it "lives".

 The small unit, called Gaak, was one of 12 taking part in a "survival of the
fittest" test at the Magna science centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which
has
been running since March.

 Gaak made its bid for freedom yesterday after it had been taken out of the
arena where hundreds of visitors watch the machines learning as they do daily
battle
for minor repairs.

Professor Noel Sharkey said he turned his back on the drone and returned 15
minutes later to find it had forced its way out of the small make-shift
paddock it
was being kept in.

 He later found it had travelled down an access slope, through the front door
of the centre and was eventually discovered at the main entrance to the car
park
when a visitor nearly flattened it with his car.

Sharkey said: "Since the experiment went live in March they have all learned
a significant amount and are becoming more intelligent by the day but the fact
that
it had ability to navigate itself out of the building and along the concrete
floor to the gates has surprised us all."

 And he added: "But there's no need to worry, as although they can escape they
are perfectly harmless and won't be taking over just yet."

Motorist Dan Lowthorpe, 27, from Sheffield, who nearly prematurely terminated
Gaak said: "I have visited Magna a couple of times in the past but came on
this
occasion especially to see the new robots.

"You can imagine how surprised I was when I nearly ran over one on my way in.
I knew the robots interacted with each but didn't expect to be personally
greeted
by one." 

 -PA

2 responses total.

#1 of 2 by polytarp on Thu Jun 20 18:43:29 2002:

Hahahahahah.  WILL YOU BER MY 0wner

#2 of 2 by russ on Sat Jun 22 16:07:51 2002:

But did Gaak ever say "Hey laser lips, your mother was a snowblower!"?

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