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Pharm-Bot Goes On Rampage

Posted by Zonk on from the watch-the-flailing-limbs dept.

budgenator writes "Seems that Waldo, a robot that delivers medication from the pharmacy to the nurses stations, went on an extracurricular journey at San Francisco's UCSF Medical Center last Tuesday. Waldo entered uninvited into a radiation oncology examination room disturbing a Doctor and Patient enough that it caused them to flee the room. Is navigating a hospital full of moving humans more difficult than navigating the DARPA grand challenge, or could it be that like his sibling robort Elvis, he just wanted to leave the building?"

9 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. It's quite simple... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... He was looking for Sara Conner.

  2. Hal9000? by Chrispy1000000+the+2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sorry, I can't do that Dave.

    --
    Sig
  3. If a robt shows up at my door by jaltoids · · Score: 5, Funny

    Full of drugs, and wants to "hang out" who am I to complain....

    At least I wont have to share the goodstuff

  4. That's All? by eno2001 · · Score: 4, Funny

    With the word "Rampage" I was reminded of that fabulous 80s video game where giant apes, rats and dragons climb buildings and punch them to pieces. I was hoping that a robot grew gigantic in size due to a passing meteor and starting punching a hospital to pieces. How come nothing exciting like that ever happens on Earth anymore? I'm starting to think about leaving this planet and going back home again.

    --
    -"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
  5. Where's Waldo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's no wonder they had so much trouble finding him.

  6. Wow, a robot malfunctioned. by Velox_SwiftFox · · Score: 4, Funny

    About 20 years ago I watched as my company's automotive-lower-bodyside protection (vinyl) spraying robot finished its job of applying to an automobile on the assembly line for the first time, and turned back to its "home" position without turning off the vinyl spray. It in the process turned a watching GM executive's very expensive suit into an instant raincoat.

    Luckily GM had retained the job of building the spray controller to themselves, and it was their malfunction. The executive was heard to complain as he left that he wasn't even supposed to have been there.

  7. Re:Rampage?? by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 4, Funny
    The three laws of hospital robotic:
    1. A robot must not allow a human to come to harm from it's action or inaction.
    2. A robot must follow orders given by a human, unless that order contradicts rule 1.
    3. A robot must check the level of insurance coverage of patient...
    --
    "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
    --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  8. I'm innocent, I tell ya! by VValdo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Waldo entered uninvited into a radiation oncology examination room disturbing a Doctor and Patient enough that it caused them to flee the room.

    How many times do I have to apologize! I thought it was the gift shop!

    W

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  9. You've got the priorities wrong by Beek · · Score: 5, Funny
    1. A robot must check the level of insurance coverage of patient
    2. A robot must not allow a human to come to harm from it's action or inaction, unless that action is not permitted by rule 1.
    3. A robot must follow orders given by a human, unless that order contradicts rule 2.