SEOUL: In an unusual incident, a robot in South Korea fell down a flight of stairs, leading to its breakdown and subsequent malfunction. The mishap has sparked speculation about whether the robot experienced a simple technical error or something more complex.
On June 26, 2024, Gumi City Council reported that their premier administrative officer robot was found unresponsive after falling down a six-and-a-half-foot flight of stairs. Eyewitnesses claimed to have seen the robot circling in one spot before the fall. The Council is currently investigating what they have termed an ‘apparent suicide’ of the robot.
The robot, which had been in service since August 2023, was discovered in pieces at the base of the stairs. These fragments are now being analyzed by Bear Robotics, the California-based company that manufactured the robot. Known for their restaurant-serving robots, Bear Robotics has pledged to collaborate with Gumi City Council to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The administrative robot had been responsible for various tasks, including document deliveries, city promotion, and providing information to residents. It was capable of moving between floors by calling an elevator and was equipped with a civil service officer card. The robot’s work hours were from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Read More: European stocks plummet post-French election
Despite rampant social media speculation about the emotional capabilities of robots, scientists believe that the incident was likely caused by a malfunction. It is thought that the robot experienced an error in its calculations, which led to it misstepping, losing balance, and ultimately falling down the stairs.
Robots operate using computers that rely on algorithms to calculate their movements, based on data from various sensors. If one of these sensors malfunctions and provides incorrect data, the algorithm may produce flawed responses.
Prior to the fall, the robot exhibited signs of malfunction, including spinning in circles without reason, suggesting at least one sensor was providing faulty data. This incorrect data likely contributed to the miscalculations that led to the fall.
Bear Robotics and Gumi City Council are working together to understand the root cause of the malfunction and to develop measures to ensure such incidents do not recur.
