Autonomous robot struck and killed by a self-driving Tesla in Las Vegas
ahead of CES
- Accident occurred on Paradise Rd in Las Vegas as
engineers transported bots
- One of the Promobots stepped out of line and
into the roadway, where it was hit
- Tesla Model S was operating autonomously, though
a passenger was on board
By
Cheyenne Macdonald For Dailymail.com In
Las Vegas
Tesla has found itself involved in yet
another self-driving car accident – and this time, its victim was a
$2,000-per-day rentable humanoid robot.
In what many are speculating was an
over-the-top PR stunt, Promobot revealed one of its model v4 robots was
‘killed’ by a Tesla Model S on a Las Vegas street
ahead of CES.
The accident occurred on Paradise Rd Sunday
night as engineers transported the firm’s robots to the display booth.
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video
In what many are speculating was an over-the-top
PR stunt, Promobot revealed one of its model v4 robots was ‘killed’ by
a Tesla Model S on a Las Vegas street ahead of CES
According to Promobot, a number of robots
were making their way to the booth around 7 p.m. when one of them
stepped out of line and into the parking lot roadway.
As it did, it was struck by a Tesla Model S
operating in autonomous mode.
The crash tipped the robot onto its side,
causing ‘serious damage,’ Promobot says.
Now, with parts of its body, head, arm
mechanisms, and movement platform destroyed, it cannot be put on
display.
The firm says the damage is likely
irreparable.
Tesla has found itself the cause of yet another
self-driving car accident – and this time, its victim was a
$2,000-per-day rentable humanoid robot. According to Promobot,
one of their bots was struck by a Tesla Model S operating in
autonomous mode
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'Of course we are vexed,’ said Oleg
Kivokurtsev, Promobot’s Development Director.
‘We brought this robot here from Philadelphia
to participate at CES. Now it neither cannot participate in the event or
be recovered.
‘We will conduct an internal investigation and
find out why the robot went to the roadway.’
The bizarre news now has many people wondering
whether the incident was a PR stunt, or simply an unfortunate coincidence.
The Tesla involved in the collision was
operating autonomously, though a passenger was inside at the time.
The crash tipped the robot onto its side, causing
‘serious damage,’ Promobot says. Now, with parts of its body, head, arm
mechanisms, and movement platform destroyed, it cannot be put on
display. The firm says the damage is likely irreparable
And, it continued driving another 50 meters
after the accident before finally stopping.
Nevada police showed up not long after.
‘There was nobody there, no men, no cars,’
said George Caldera, a Tesla passenger.
‘I switched this Tesla into a self-driving
mode and it started to move. And wow! A robot on the track!
‘I thought the flivver would
come round, but it bumped straightly into the it! I am so sorry, the robot
looks cute. And my sincere apologies to the engineers.’