1984: First documented case of a robot killing a human in U.S.

[underpants]

This day in "radical" history
July 21

1984: First documented case of a robot killing a human in U.S., Jackson, Mississippi, plant.


http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=17214#21

1542: Inquisition established in Rome.

1571: Inquisition created for the Portuguese navy.

[Hugin]

1. Send in Magnus!

(Very, very, obscure reference.)

[underpants]

2. Someone turn on the Yoshimi signal!!

Much less obscure than you probably think. (lots of google hits on 'Magnus robot')

[Hugin]

3. Well, what do you know...

Hmm... It's probably more popular now than when it was purely a comic book.

I've always considered "Magnus: Robot Fighter" to be prime real estate for a
TeeVee series or maybe a couple of movies. (Starring: George Clooney j/k :) )


Interesting side note: I corresponded with a Magnus fan once who's name was
coincidentally, Magnus. He was working somewhere in Scandinavia for AutoDesk.

[Hugin]

4. Upon more reflection I've realized...

There was "iRobot" as well.

Will Smith! :D

The problem with "iRobot" is that it branded the robots and not
the fighter.

[Bassic]

6. It also annoyed me that the movie had shit-all to do with the

book. But it was still a good movie.

[Hugin]

5. For your listening pleasure... Yoshimi Battles: The Pink Robots; Pt. 1

I can't link to it directly... There is a player at the top of the
page. Select Yoshimi... Enjoy. (Especially if one has broadband)

http://www.flaminglips.com/main.php

[underpants]

7. That is a great site

Really topnotch band website. Their history shows lots of bodies scattered about along the way but everyone seems to still be good friends they just couldn't handle that "lifstyle" anymore. Makes you wonder about the ones who have stuck it out. :crazy:

[Hugin]

9. "These were not normal guys from normal families - "

"you're talking about freaks" -- Michele Vlasimsky, Flaming Lips manager 1986-1990

LOL!

Great site... I'm enjoying listening to it.

:7

[Magrittes Pipe]

8. Once rule #1 is violated...

...all bets are off.

[MissMillie]

10. I wonder if they had that insurance...

Old Lady #1: When my ex-husband passed away, the insurance company said his policy didn't cover him.

Old Lady #2: They didn't have enough money for the funeral.

Old Lady #3: It's so hard nowadays, with all the gangs and rap music..

Old Lady #1: What about the robots?

Old Lady #4: Oh, they're everywhere!

Old Lady #1: I don't even know why the scientists make them.

Old Lady #2: Darren and I have a policy with Old Glory Insurance, in case we're attacked by robots.

Old Lady #1: An insurance policy with a robot plan? Certainly, I'm too old.

Old Lady #2: Old Glory covers anyone over the age of 50 against robot attack, regardless of current health.

< cut to Sam Waterston, Compensated Endorser >

Sam Waterson: I'm Sam Waterston, of the popular TV series "Law & Order". As a senior citizen, you're probably aware of the threat robots pose. Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel. Well, now there's a company that offers coverage against the unfortunate event of robot attack, with Old Glory Insurance. Old Glory will cover you with no health check-up or age consideration. < SUPER: Limitied Benefits First Two Years > You need to feel safe. And that's harder and harder to do nowadays, because robots may strike at any time.

< show pie chart reading "Cause of Death in Persons Over 50 Years of Age": Heart Disease, 42% - Robots, 58% >

And when they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free.. because they're made of metal, and robots are strong. Now, for only $4 a month, you can achieve peace of mind in a world full of grime and robots, with Old Glory Insurance. So, don't cower under your afghan any longer. Make a choice. < SUPER: "WARNING: Persons denying the existence of Robots may be Robots themselves. > Old Glory Insurance. For when the metal ones decide to come for you - and they will.

[Hugin]

11. Terra! Terra! Terra!

LOL!

@!$#@! Robots!

[underpants]

13. Link to CDC report on the incident- very thorough

On July 21, 1984 a 34 year old die cast operator with 15 years experience went into cardiopulmonary arrest after being pinned between the right rear end of a hydraulic robot and a safety pole. Rescue efforts included unpinning the worker, administering CPR, and transporting him to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. Five days later, he was pronounced dead as a result of cerebral necrosis. The attending medical examiner then notified the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) through their Medical Examiner and Coroner Alert Project (MECAP).


http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full8420.html




The employer of the victim is a die cast company with approximately 280 employees (including 66 die cast operators) and 24 die cast machines. Within the last two years, two of these machines had been automated and two more robots have been purchased but not placed into production at the time of the accident. The company works three shifts and operates 24 hours a day. Recently, the employees had been working six days (and occasionally seven days) a week.

On July 21, 1984, the die cast operator was working with an automated die cast system that utilized a Unimate Robot. This robot was programmed to extract the casting from-the die-cast machine, dip it into a quench tank and then insert it into an automatic trim press (see figure 1). The robot is programmed to perform the entire cycle in 27 steps which take approximately one minute. The safeguard present included a safety rail with interlock gate..

At approximately 1:00 PM, the victim entered the working area of the robot by either climbing over/through the safety rail or by walking through one of the unguarded gaps between the safety rail and related die-casting equipment. There was a 32 inch wide opening between the interlocking gate and the die-casting machine. There was also a 19 inch wide gap between the other end of the fence and the automatic trim press. His reason for entering the robot work envelope is uncertain. Several workers believed that since he had an air gun with him, he may have been trying to clean up 'flash' and "scrap metal- that had accumulated on the floor. The air hose was attached outside the work envelope but was sufficiently long to allow the operator to clean up the floor anywhere inside the envelope. Fellow workers also stated that they had seen the die-cast operator inside the work envelope on previous occasions with the robot up and running. The die-cast operator had been trained against this prohibited activity at the manufacturer's training course on the robot. He had recently attended the course from June 25, 1984 to July 1, 1984.

The victim was discovered when a fellow employee, who worked at an adjacent die-cast work station heard an air hose steadily hissing. The accident site could not be seen from the neighboring work station but the fellow employee stated that he heard this continual hissing noise for 10 to 15-minutes. The neighboring employee stopped working and went to the next work station to investigate the hissing noise. He discovered the victim pinned between the right rear of the robot and a safety pole in a slumped but upright position (see Figure 2). The robot stalled when it contacted the man's body and continued to apply pressure on the chest area. The employee then ran to get help from the foreman.

When the Director of Manufacturing arrived, he stated that fellow workers of the victim were struggling with the robot's controller, a hand-held teach pendant which is used to program the robot. After giving up on this first robot controller, a second teach pendant was retrieved from another robot.' The Director of Manufacturing finally unpinned the victim using the second hand-held robot controller and began administering CPR. The Fire Department arrived approximately one minute later. The Emergency Medical Service arrived approximately two minutes after the Fire Department and proceeded to transport the victim to the local hospital. The victim died five days later in the hospital. The next-of-kin refused to permit an autopsy; consequently, the complete pathology of the injuries is unknown. However, physical signs of any crushing injury were absent and x-rays of bones and internal organs were negative.

Subsequent to the accident, the employer installed a cyclone fence which covered the gaps and made unauthorized entry impossible.

[Hugin]

14. Very interesting...

Especially the part where the employees were struggling with the "teach pendant".

Ah, well... The first robot uprising was delt with and I'm assuming the renegade
robot was summarily destroyed. (As, is the the usual SOP with Anti-Carbon-Based
Instigators.)

[Bill McBlueState]

12. argh, beat me to it!

I was scanning the thread to see if anyone else had offered the OP robot insurance.

Well-played. :)