Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity

Robots may be impressive and occasionally frightening things that will some day rule our lives and societies, but right now they're rather co-dependent, unable to even recharge themselves without a helping hand. The latest from robo-startup Willow Garage is different, a bot called PR2 that's capable of maneuvering through a crowded office, opening (non-locked) doors, and pilfering a little taste of that good, good, alternating current juice. What's more, he's sensitive to your time constraints, so the demonstration video below has been thoughtfully edited to minimize footage of aimless wandering, spinning, and general confusion. Next step: learning to knock.

[Via Robots.net]

[Michiel @ Jun 15th 2009 8:48AM]

He plugs in like he's drunk

[OneLove @ Jun 15th 2009 10:17AM]

Is this robot porn? Hes violating that socket.

[Blackstar @ Jun 15th 2009 10:17AM]

Hey, I bet you have a problem with tab-A into slot-B when you've had a few too many yourself.

[idiot @ Jun 15th 2009 1:39PM]

He's jacking on!!!

[notselfcreated @ Jun 16th 2009 2:45AM]

This is Bender's great great x10^40 grandrobot.

[realturk @ Jun 15th 2009 8:53AM]

thanx for sharing post

[GingerFox @ Jun 15th 2009 8:50AM]

I dont know why but when it opened that door it kinda creeped me out=/

[superhobo @ Jun 15th 2009 9:05AM]

Velociraptors vs PR2 door opening competition!

[fanman @ Jun 15th 2009 8:51AM]

So this is how the world ends...

[verebs1 @ Jun 15th 2009 9:04AM]

I sure hope the end will be more exciting than this.

[superhobo @ Jun 15th 2009 9:03AM]

No, future robots will just place their hands on your Touchstone.

[Alex @ Jun 15th 2009 9:18AM]

The way my electric toothbrush has been charging for 10 years

[Talon Trax @ Jun 15th 2009 9:05AM]

Hasn't the Roomba charged itself when it needs it for a couple years now?

[Kelvinyam @ Jun 15th 2009 9:07AM]

Romba needs a docking station. This one doesn't.

[Kelvinyam @ Jun 15th 2009 9:05AM]

I don't know about you guys. I do hope they make the on-off switch large enough to be accessed to.

[roboman37 @ Jun 15th 2009 9:27AM]

there is no power switch... I guess you will have to convince him to turn off while he is stabbing you with an electrical plug or you could just run away, he goes about his business very slowly then again that might be what the sniper rifle is for in the next design along with a 300hp hemi v8.

[scott @ Jun 15th 2009 8:13PM]

lol, try 500hp hemi...

[n8 @ Jun 15th 2009 11:21AM]

I find that video strangely erotic.

[Peter @ Jun 15th 2009 9:34AM]

Clever, these robots...getting the meatbags to do their evolution for them. We won't even realize we have created our own robot overlords until it is too late...

//just don't give them a common language

[Martin @ Jun 15th 2009 9:51AM]

I for one, welcome our new robot overlords!

[jack1701 @ Jun 15th 2009 10:12AM]

Very rude overlords who don't close the door after getting their juice. Exactly like our current overlords who doesn't lift the toilet seat after they are done.

[cheavisides @ Jun 15th 2009 9:34AM]

robo-slut

[Danny B @ Jun 15th 2009 9:47AM]

Wow.. that photo of the Robot about to "plug in" with that wall seems kinda dirty.

Turn away kids....

[jack1701 @ Jun 15th 2009 10:08AM]

I agree, it's practically jerking off to the socket

[cheavisides @ Jun 15th 2009 10:06AM]

"Hey laaazor lips, Your mother was a snow blower."

... number 5 is alive!


... why does it keep humping the socket even after its plugged in?

[jack1701 @ Jun 15th 2009 10:09AM]

"why does it keep humping the socket even after its plugged in?"

coz like you, it wishes it can penetrate deeper

[God @ Jun 15th 2009 11:09AM]

Ba-dum--TSHH

And for the few of you who need to hear it:

http://instantrimshot.com/

[st2356 @ Jun 15th 2009 11:00AM]

It would be awesome if after all that "plugging" the robot smoked a cigarette at the end.

[dan2600 @ Jun 15th 2009 11:10AM]

is that a linksys on his back? Suddenly I'm not so scared...his wifi will crash soon enough :)

[404 @ Jun 15th 2009 12:20PM]

Yeah, looks very WAG 160N-like.

Don't worry, if his router fails he'll just open a few doors and pinch yours...

[thedankone @ Jun 15th 2009 2:34PM]

I like how he gentle wiggled it in the socket...what a gentlemen.

[johnnyvx @ Jun 15th 2009 4:07PM]

But will it work in the EU? Doh, no adapter!!! :-)

[johnnyvx @ Jun 15th 2009 3:48PM]

But will it work in the EU? Doh, no adapter!!! :-)

[Tim Legg @ Jun 15th 2009 5:15PM]

One software failure... Three holes in the wall.

[Ian @ Jun 15th 2009 5:56PM]

am i the only one asking, whats its purpose? other than taking our power

[Str1ker @ Jun 15th 2009 10:29PM]

Love the way he (it?) opened Door 6 at 3:02min in the video.

You know what's scary though. When the robot accomplishes something you feel the need to applaud him like he's an actual human learning something. "Hey, good work mate"