July 1, 2007: Rescue robot
 

http://cellar.org/2007/rescue_robot01.jpg

The innovative Japanese have done it again with this item, which xoB points out from Neatorama via the Tokyo Times blog, where there is already plenty of snark to go around. "...rumours that the robot is able to 'digest' those who don't make it and has been bought in bulk by a certain fast food restaurant chain have yet to be confirmed," says the Times. Good snark, that.

http://cellar.org/2007/rescue_robot02.jpg

If you're curious as to what the machine does when the person is not lying down flat, or when the person is not oriented north-south to the machine so that it can drag them into its slidey bit, or what happens with spinal injuries, well that's a lot of questions we won't be able to answer. Still, it's nice to see progress being made.

Hurrah, first post!
This reminds me of how the Japanese whaling ships work... but less bloody and lacking the harpoons.
But trust the Japs to think of something like that!

Alright, I ain't scared, I'll say it: "Danger Will Robinson!! Danger!! Danger!!" I, for one, do not want to be eaten by a robot. Blown, or laid, maybe, but not eaten...:borg:

Wouldn't it be quicker, more versatile, and cheaper to hire 2 illegal immigrants with a stretcher?

Bruce, I think you've stumbled on the solution to a number of problems.

"All your body belong to us."

That is just sooo ... um... lame?

It looks like it will crush my head like it is doing to that other dummy.
Can I just fend for myself?

I for one, welcome our body snatching robot overlords.

How the heck is it ... what the heck is it grasping onto in order to drag the body? Looks like clothing, but that doesn't seem too terribly ...er...useful. Unless the designers were looking to undress the ..uh...victims...
Nah, couldn't be. Could it?

Occurs to me the cartmen ("Bring out your dead!) from Monty Python and the Holy Grail could have used one of these.

Inspired by this Manual:

Attachment 13487

Soilent Green anyone?
 

I would be really freaked out if I saw Chaz Heston in the background...

That gave me a real belly laugh, thank you :notworthy

But why would Overlords have to resort to 'snatching'??

Don't they just snap their fingers and traitorous humans in their employ do it?

Because they can.

If you can't do your own snatching as an evil overlord then really what point is there to being an evil overlord? Snatching is half the fun.

These robots don't look like they move so fast. I believe the only way that they can snatch people is if the intended victim is willing to co-operate by lying still for an hour or so.

Body snatching, doesn't require live people.