Battle Droid Prototype Escapes From Lab

From: 0§âmâ ßíñ Këñ0ßí (abuse@anarchy.gov)
Date: 06/24/02 

From: 0§âmâ ßíñ Këñ0ßí <abuse@anarchy.gov>
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 07:36:29 -0400

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

Robot on the run
By Dave Higgens, London
The Age / R.A.G.U.N.S.

Scientists running a pioneering experiment with "living robots" which
think for themselves 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."