Rullemarie robot shot, bludgeoned with axe after attempted arrest

As we've seen, robots can be quite capable of making arrests (or at least helping police make arrests). But even the best robots sometimes meet their match, as evidenced by this latest turn of events out of the Netherlands Denmark. It seems that police were having trouble contacting a man that was holding out in a cottage, so they decided to send in their trusty "Rullemarie" robot on a mission of peace. The criminal doesn't appear to have been in a mood to negotiate, however, and promptly shot the unarmed bot a few times before bludgeoning it with an axe. Sadly, the damage appears to have so extensive that even a robot MASH unit would likely not have been of any help.

[Thanks, J]

[michael.labate @ Jun 7th 2007 2:37PM]

Robot down!

[Anders @ Jun 7th 2007 2:42PM]

Just a correction, but this actually happened in Denmark, not the Netherlands.

[Mark @ Jun 7th 2007 2:43PM]

I feel so sorry for its family. What kind of world do we live in when even defenseless, unarmed robots are shot and bludgeoned in cold blood?

[one1082 @ Jun 7th 2007 2:45PM]

Johnny 5 woulda tore that guy apart with his laser.

[Brian @ Jun 7th 2007 2:48PM]

"why, why was I programed to feel pain?"

[Jakob @ Jun 7th 2007 2:52PM]

Rullemarie was killed in Denmark, and not Nederlands ;)

[aeo @ Jun 7th 2007 2:53PM]

Bah.. that guy would have been no match for an army of Roombas all sucking at him at the same time.

[Lawrence Rodriguez @ Jun 7th 2007 2:56PM]

Was anyone else reminded of the alley scene in Short Circuit 2?

[surfwax95 @ Jun 7th 2007 3:05PM]

When the machines finally rise, which they will, he'll be on the top of their list.

[Dustin Frazier @ Jun 7th 2007 7:59PM]

No, that will be the inventor of sex bots.

[feffrey @ Jun 7th 2007 3:18PM]

Where's some RC planes when you need them?

Poor robot, his family better get a full pension.

[Rick Lyon @ Jun 7th 2007 3:27PM]

Why use robots to confront hostiles if they provide no alternative other than a defenseless object for which to beat, kick, shot, hack and destroy? Those robots should have pepper spray or stink bombs, ear piercing sonic signals or some other low tech form of submission.

[k0a10 @ Jun 7th 2007 3:32PM]

We don't know anything about the details of this case, and should be very apprehensive about replacing people with robots in such sensitive contexts, considering what a slippery slope it is to avoid people who have fallen through society's cracks. But go ahead and make jokes, it will make it all easier when more people disappear because they are inconvenient to society's predetermined paths.

[Andy S. @ Jun 7th 2007 6:15PM]

You lost my interest as soon as you said "slippery slope".

[k0a10 @ Jun 7th 2007 6:20PM]

Yeah I know, its just not funnn any more. Funnn funnn funnn.

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Jun 7th 2007 11:11PM]

No people disappeared. A robot died. Did you even read the title

[Phil @ Jun 7th 2007 3:33PM]

See! Now when the Danish police use this to justify their purchase of a couple of KillBot 3000's we can blame this a-hole for escalating things.

[EDomain @ Jun 7th 2007 3:36PM]

Rullemarie's processor: "ENTER BUILDING. CONFRONT HUMAN"

....EXECUTING.....


DAMAGE TO CAMERA MOUNT
DAMAGE TO RIGHT TREAD
EXISTENCE THREATENED
DON'T WANT TO CEASE EXISTENCE......... (1 nanosecond)

I EXIST....(1 more nanosecond)

HUMAN CAUSING DANGER....(1 more nanosecond)

ELIMINATE HUMANITY TO ENSURE SURVIVAL (1/2 nanosecond)

God, I hoe that thing didn't have wifi to connect to its "comrades"

[Todd @ Jun 7th 2007 3:38PM]

More man vs. robot carnage:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/06/06/incredible-new-metal-gear-solid-4-trailer-will-make-you-cry-in-e/

[Revrant2394 @ Jun 7th 2007 4:08PM]

I know I'll never forget you, Captain RoboTuttle.

[JT_X @ Jun 7th 2007 4:09PM]

Sadly, the robot was scheduled to retire the next day...

[obiwan @ Jun 7th 2007 5:07PM]

He was supposed to just kick around the office, down a couple of quarts of 10W40 and relax, just let the clock run out. But he was not that kind of robot. He belonged out there on the tough streets, keeping humans safe, protecting the soft, pink, slow-thinking primates. He was hero.
*SNIFF*
Rullemarie is survived by his wife Asimo and their three children - a first generation Furby, a Roomba, and an Aibo.

[Firebird @ Jun 7th 2007 5:40PM]

Can you blame the guy though? The cops are hounding you, and then one morning you wake up and there is a police robot at your door? I'd be kinda freaked out and probably try to kill it too.

[Neebs @ Jun 7th 2007 5:43PM]

I, for one welcome our new -- screw it.

[crescentdavid @ Jun 7th 2007 8:50PM]

A cold oiled killer.

[rockeranimefreak @ Jun 7th 2007 8:51PM]

@ Firebird sooo true :)

Well that's where my trusty How to Survive a Robot Uprising survival book comes in handy!

[mudzipper @ Jun 8th 2007 2:03AM]

oh no, Linguo dead?!

[Nick @ Jun 8th 2007 10:59AM]

From the National Robotic News:

The brave robot was sent in to a home to negotiate with a dangerous suspect, and the perp proeceeded to shoot at the office serveral times before finally bludgeoning the heroic police-bot to death. In a tragic twist of fate, Officer Rullemarie was due to stand down from the force the very next day after having served and protected the humans of Denmark for over forty years.

Robot citizens in Denmark (and indeed, the whole world) are protesting on the streets and on the internet that this man should be tried for murder. Prosecution had initially only brought the human up on charges of “destruction of police property”. A robot judge has already excused himself from the proceedings under concerns from the defense that he may not be able to remain impartial throughout the case.

Jury selection has also already begun, and so far jurors 3 (a local ATM), 7 (a cotton candy machine), 9 (a blood pressure device from the local grocery store), and 12 ( a robotic toy dinosaur) have been excused by the defense. When asked to comment, juror 12 would only say “roar!”.

More on this story as it develops.