# Security Robots should be able to deal with Stairs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566 "2017-07-18T13:55:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/1 "2017-07-18T13:55:05Z")
When the original version of **Robocop** came out in 1987, a lot of people complained that the **ED-209** security system was ludicrous because it couldn’t cope with stairs [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mRDl5_-wJ0Y/hqdefault.jpg "ED-209 GOES DOWN") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRDl5_-wJ0Y) > **[This Robot Was Meant To Patrol An Office Building. Instead, It Fell Into A...](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/security-robot-drowns-washington-harbour_n_596dd488e4b010d77673776f?ruf=&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009)** > > "Security robot, yes. Submarine robot, no. Got it." > [@](#): > > An autonomous 300-pound crime-fighting android tasked with patrolling an office building in Washington, D.C., met an untimely end on Monday — after it tumbled into a water fountain. > … > > The K5 machine, which Silicon Valley start-up Knightscope developed, was reportedly patrolling the Washington Harbour complex in Georgetown when it fell down steps and landed on its side in the water. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/2 "2017-07-18T14:01:46Z")
If that thing wasn’t equipped with the sentry voice from “Portal” then I’m afraid I simply have lost faith in humanity’s sense of humour. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/3 "2017-07-18T14:14:53Z")
hey, no problem! The Daleks conquered the entire earth, and never worried about stairs. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/4 "2017-07-18T14:19:35Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > hey, no problem! > The Daleks conquered the entire earth, and never worried about stairs. As an old SF button put it > [@](#): > > Real Daleks don’t bother with stairs > Real Daleks level the building Only in the recent incarnations, Daleks can apparently levitate, so stairs are no longer an issue. Actually, it goes back further than I’d realized: Unfortunately, the \*\*K5\*\* was not equipped with any sort of levitation gear, which was literally its downfall. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/5 "2017-07-18T15:04:47Z")
OK, if this thing was a security robot, it had to have onboard cameras recording everything it saw, right? Where’s the footage of this from the robot’s point of view? And what’s up with that design? To be an effective security robot, it needs to _look_ like a security robot. Give it something at least suggestive of a uniform or some insignia. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/6 "2017-07-18T16:54:01Z")
Yeah, that’s definitely not the droid I’m looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/7 "2017-07-18T17:51:32Z")
Apparently it was pushed into the fountain by a drunk guy. But the question I have, is what exactly does this robot do? Drive around and record stuff on a security camera? How is that better than just adding a bunch of security cameras if you need security cameras? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/8 "2017-07-18T19:16:15Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Apparently it was pushed into the fountain by a drunk guy. > > But the question I have, is what exactly does this robot do? Drive around and record stuff on a security camera? How is that better than just adding a bunch of security cameras if you need security cameras? Deterrence maybe? A robot is a lot more noticeable than security cameras, plus potential troublemakers may be wary about what it’s capable of (provided they don’t witness it tumbling down stairs into a fountain). ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/9 "2017-07-18T19:17:02Z")
Marvin the Robot finally found a way to commit suicide. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/10 "2017-07-18T19:35:05Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > hey, no problem! > The Daleks conquered the entire earth, and never worried about stairs. Clearly the ADA and its equivalents around the world are the nefarious work of secret Dalek agents, quietly preparing the world for their arrival. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/11 "2017-07-18T20:14:04Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Apparently it was pushed into the fountain by a drunk guy. No, that was a similar robot that was pushed over by a drunk person in a parking lot in California back in April. > **[Drunk man arrested for ‘assault’ on security robot](https://nypost.com/2017/04/26/drunk-man-arrested-for-assault-on-security-robot/)** > > A Silicone Valley man was arrested for “assault” on a crime prevention robot — which managed to call police and report the attack itself, a report says. Jason Sylvain, 41, allegedly set… The robot that fell into the fountain apparently fell into it accidentally. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/12 "2017-07-18T20:30:21Z")
It’s getting so I can’t tell which malfunctioning killbot is which. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/13 "2017-07-18T21:32:48Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > It’s getting so I can’t tell which malfunctioning killbot is which. This is why you have to be specific with robots. They should have made sure their killbot knew it was supposed to kill _other people,_ instead of itself. After all, if it’s going to kill just _anybody_ it’ll start with itself, it’s closest. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/14 "2017-07-20T15:38:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Actually, it goes back further than I’d realized Further back than that clip even, see Colin Baker’s 1985 story [Revelation of the Daleks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_of_the_Daleks) which had the first TV evidence of levitation. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/15 "2017-07-20T15:46:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No, that was a similar robot that was pushed over by a drunk person in a parking lot in California back in April. > > [Drunk man arrested for ‘assault’ on security robot](http://nypost.com/2017/04/26/drunk-man-arrested-for-assault-on-security-robot/) > > The robot that fell into the fountain apparently fell into it accidentally. That thing looks like Wall-E’s girlfriend’s fat ugly friend. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/16 "2017-07-20T17:01:06Z")
> [@Mavic\_Chen](#): > > Further back than that clip even, see Colin Baker’s 1985 story [Revelation of the Daleks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_of_the_Daleks) which had the first TV evidence of levitation. Looking through Dr. Who stuff on the internet, it appears to be even earlier than that, with Levitating Daleks in the 1960s in _the Chase_ and _Power of the Daleks_. > **[Why does New Who get all the credit for levitating Daleks?](https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1890883/why-does-new-who-get-all-the-credit-for-levitating-daleks)** > > Just watched Doctor Who's Greatest Moments, and both Tracy Oberman and Corey Johnson were making out as though it was an astonishing new thing when a Dalek… > **[The Power of the Daleks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_the_Daleks)** > > The Power of the Daleks is the completely missing third serial of the fourth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 5 November to 10 December 1966. It is the first full story to feature Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor. > In this serial, the new Doctor (Troughton) and his travelling companions Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze) land on the planet Vulcan. There they find an Earth colony, where the lead sc... > **[Dalek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalek)** > > The Daleks (/ˈdɑːlɛks/ ⓘ DAH-leks) are a fictional extraterrestrial race of extremely xenophobic mutants principally portrayed in the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. They were conceived by writer Terry Nation and first appeared in the 1963 Doctor Who serial The Daleks, in casings designed by Raymond Cusick. > Drawing inspiration from the Nazis, Nation portrayed the Daleks as violent, merciless and pitiless cyborg aliens, completely absent of any emotion other than hate,... > [@](#): > > Planet of the Daleks showed that they could ascend a vertical shaft by means of an external anti-gravity mat placed on the floor; Revelation of the Daleks showed Davros in his life-support chair and one of his Daleks hovering and Remembrance of the Daleks depicted them as capable of hovering up a flight of stairs > [@](#): > > But weren’t The Daleks in The Chase levitating under sand (which probably doesn’t count) or off camera to get to the top of a flight of stairs. > > Also I’d like to point out the complete lack of fuss made about a levitating Davros in Revelation of the Daleks or the Dalek that pursues the Doctor up the shaft in Power of the Daleks (it’s unclear if a levitating pad is in use in this case). > [@](#): > > A levitating Dalek was done - and quite well too - in the 1960s, in ‘The Chase’. Serves me right for not being a Whovian. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/17 "2017-07-21T09:24:08Z")
Cool info, thanks **CalMeacham** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/18 "2017-07-21T18:25:36Z")
No-one will be surprised to learn that xkcd totally has the OP covered: [Robot Apocalypse](https://what-if.xkcd.com/5/) ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/19 "2017-07-21T23:02:03Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Clearly the ADA and its equivalents around the world are the nefarious work of secret Dalek agents, quietly preparing the world for their arrival. [“Are you saying that you think that disabled access is a Dalek conspiracy?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-zNmLMr3-4) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566/20 "2017-07-22T15:29:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > When the original version of **Robocop** came out in 1987, a lot of people complained that the **ED-209** security system was ludicrous because it couldn’t cope with stairs Hey, let’s see you cope with stairs that have treads only 1/3 as wide as your feet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-robots-should-be-able-to-deal-with-stairs/791566.md?page=2)