Surprise!

What would you think, seeing this guy trundling unattended downs a sidewalk in your town at the beginning of the business day?

Would you feel differently if the sidewalk was alongside the police station?

Yup, trundling along, totally unattended, this little guy took up about half the sidewalk, and stood perhaps 2-2.5' tall.  The sidewalk next to police headquarters in Honolulu.  That "head" up top turning slowing this way and that, clearly observing where he was going.  I wished there was a place to stop and take a picture, but alas, nothing was available.  At least not at 8:15 in the morning.

I immediately thought of this fellow, star of the 1990's film, Short Circuit, which pops up on weekend or late night television every so often.  His name is Number Five, one of five robots belonging to the US military.  While out on demonstration one day with his four companion prototype robots, Number Five escapes into the real world.  His two most repeated lines?  "Number Five is alive!"  and, always with great urgency, "Need input, need input!"

Number 5 is at least 5' tall.  He moves and speaks independently.  He has a quirky sense of humor, as any "live" robot would.

The other day I asked a police officer friend what it was I had seen.

Bill grinned.  "I've never seen it," he said, "but the HPD Bomb Squad has a robot.  They must have been practicing remote robot control."  The more I described what I had seen, the more assured Bill became.  "Must be the bomb squad robot."

My Honolulu "buddy" may not be as large or as independent as Number Five, but he really is a robot, and he really is a member of the Honolulu Police Department.

Wonder if there's a robot out there which can successfully track down perpetrators in personal property thefts, from a vehicle or a private home?  My brother's Ka'a'awa community could certainly use one these day -- or at least until the burgular in their midst is caught.  (Browse ilind.net for more about the recent rash of Ka'a'awa burglaries.)

Give thanks for police officers all over the world who take to heart the motto, "to serve and protect".

Don't forget to pray.