nature abhors a vacuum
January 22, 2022 8:08 AM Subscribe
Robot vacuum cleaner escapes from Cambridge Travelodge. (BBC) "Staff said it just kept going and "could be anywhere" while well-wishers on social media hoped the vacuum enjoyed its travels, as "it has no natural predators" in the wild."
Oooh a prequel! Next up: "In the Beginning there was man, and for a time, it was good...."
posted by lalochezia at 8:28 AM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by lalochezia at 8:28 AM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
While some readers joked about the robot's adventures, one feared for its safety in the great outdoors, pointing out that "nature abhors a vacuum".
posted by pipeski at 8:40 AM on January 22, 2022 [33 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 8:40 AM on January 22, 2022 [33 favorites]
However, much to everyone's relief, the device was found nestled under a hedge on Friday afternoon by a (human) hotel cleaner sprucing up the front drive.
If there's a bustle in your hedgrow, don't be alarmed now
It's just a spring clean for the Roomba
posted by chavenet at 8:58 AM on January 22, 2022 [31 favorites]
If there's a bustle in your hedgrow, don't be alarmed now
It's just a spring clean for the Roomba
posted by chavenet at 8:58 AM on January 22, 2022 [31 favorites]
The natural predator of robot vacuum cleaners is puppy poo, which has been well-attested. It is found, I believe, in copious quantities in nature.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:01 AM on January 22, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:01 AM on January 22, 2022 [6 favorites]
It was dusted off and "is now back sitting happily on a shelf with the rest of its robot vacuum family", the hotel confirmed.
"You've always been the caretaker. I ought to know: I've always been here."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:33 AM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
"You've always been the caretaker. I ought to know: I've always been here."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:33 AM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is the kind of quality content I look for from Metafilter. Excellent article!
posted by Vatnesine at 9:42 AM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Vatnesine at 9:42 AM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
The natural predator of robot vacuum cleaners is puppy poo
Robot vacuum cleaner trained to dodge pet faeces, BBC News, 9 September 2021:
posted by cenoxo at 9:43 AM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
Robot vacuum cleaner trained to dodge pet faeces, BBC News, 9 September 2021:
…iRobot, which makes the new Roomba, promised it would replace any of the new machines, the Roomba j7+ [product page], that failed to avoid "solid" pet waste. The algorithms controlling the robot had been trained on "hundreds of thousands of images of real, fake, and simulated dog and cat waste", a representative told CNet….Rumor has it that these shit-avoidance algorithms will be incorporated into the next generation of electronic voting machines.
posted by cenoxo at 9:43 AM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
Many years ago I saw a small news story about a robot that had escaped a lab and was found wandering the neighborhood. It was some sort of fighting robot being developed on contract with the military. I think it was in England.
posted by neuron at 9:50 AM on January 22, 2022
posted by neuron at 9:50 AM on January 22, 2022
Crouton petting taken to its natural conclusion.
posted by fight or flight at 9:56 AM on January 22, 2022
posted by fight or flight at 9:56 AM on January 22, 2022
Correction: iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum with P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise).
posted by cenoxo at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2022
posted by cenoxo at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2022
Anyone else finding this post eponystyerical? No? Just me? Oh well.
posted by workerant at 12:04 PM on January 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by workerant at 12:04 PM on January 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
neuron > Many years ago I saw a small news story about a robot that had escaped a lab and was found wandering the neighborhood.
This? Russian Robot Escapes From Its Lab and Starts Wandering the Streets – A robot escaped from a testing facility in Perm and began blocking traffic, according to Russian media., Popular Mechanics, Avery Thompson, Jun 16, 2016 (photo, YT video).
posted by cenoxo at 12:51 PM on January 22, 2022
This? Russian Robot Escapes From Its Lab and Starts Wandering the Streets – A robot escaped from a testing facility in Perm and began blocking traffic, according to Russian media., Popular Mechanics, Avery Thompson, Jun 16, 2016 (photo, YT video).
posted by cenoxo at 12:51 PM on January 22, 2022
lalochezia, this is EXACTLY where my brain went!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 1:43 PM on January 22, 2022
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 1:43 PM on January 22, 2022
No disassemble!
posted by The otter lady at 6:32 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by The otter lady at 6:32 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
[braveheartfreedom.gif]
posted by gottabefunky at 9:34 AM on January 24, 2022
posted by gottabefunky at 9:34 AM on January 24, 2022
I once read a story about a man working for a company that made robot lawnmowers, and he was pointing out that it was risky to use the solar powered ones in unfenced areas, which made me envision a dystopian future of well-trimmed lawns.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 1:17 PM on January 24, 2022
posted by pixiecrinkle at 1:17 PM on January 24, 2022
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posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:20 AM on January 22, 2022 [7 favorites]