4 Shocking Times Robots Have Actually Killed Humans
Tragic Cases of Technology Gone Wrong.
We have always found the notion of humans designing machines in their own image to be fascinating, but there isn’t always a happy ending for humans and robots — the bond between both might even be catastrophic at times.
Pop culture has already persuaded us that humanoid robots will ultimately destroy us all, despite the fact that this concept is only slowly becoming a reality.
We make jokes about it and how this is how Skynet came to be; however, the reality is — that the robots have been killing people for quite some time now.
Even when it’s not always done on purpose, it is still happening nonetheless.
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence and robots have greatly improved many aspects of our lives, yet on the other hand, they still pose a major threat to human lives.
Still, we must be watchful and ensure that these machines are developed and deployed with safety in mind and that they always operate under human supervision.
1. Crushing Robot Arm At The Kawasaki Factory
Back in 1979, a robot arm caused a deadly accident in America, and just two years later, in 1981, Japan had its own tragic incident — both had one thing in common which was a malfunctioning robot.
It happened at a Kawasaki plant where a guy named Kenji Urada was working. He was near a robot that suddenly went haywire.
However, instead of following proper safety protocols, Urada went into an area where humans were not supposed to be, especially when a robot is not working as it should be.
The procedure was to go through a specialized gate which would instantly turn of the power; however, for some odd reasons Urada decided to hop over the safety area instead and that’s when things took a turn for the worse.
Urada accidentally hit the power button while trying to repair the robot arm, which caused it to power up and crush him against a wall.
Killing him instantly, and even when people were quick to help him out of the danger zone, it was still too late.
2. Sharp Shooting Robot
A tragic incident occurred in 2020 when an Iranian nuclear physicist was killed not far from the Iranian capital Tehran.
According to General Ali Fadavi, one of the senior-most Iranian officials, the weapon used to shoot the scientist was extremely precisely directed — it was able to kill the scientist without scratching his wife, who was seated right beside him.
It’s crucial to remember that no other sources have verified these claims.
What truly happened on that day is still unknown.
However, many claim that it was Israel and the United States who were directly involved in carrying out the assassination.
Apparently, an AI-controlled machine, guided by satellite technology and facial recognition, targeted the scientist from the back of a pickup truck before detonating an explosive device.
Shockingly, the entire attack lasted only three minutes.
3. Bomb Disposing Robot Doing Very Opposite
Whether it be movies or news, chances are you have surely heard of bomb disposal robots.
These machines have been around since the 1970s, and they’re actually quite simple — they’re controlled remotely and designed to help law enforcement safely approach dangerous areas where explosives may be present.
The whole point is to save lives by preventing people from having to risk their own when disarming bombs.
The Dallas police department used its bomb robot in a way that no one had ever seen before in 2016; however, things took an unusual turn.
A sniper killed five police officers and injured more than seven while the negotiations were going on and later failed to resolve the escalating situation.
Senior police officers decided to use their robot which was used to dispose of bombs — to deliver a bomb into the room where the sharpshooter was hiding.
The suspect was instantaneously killed when the explosives went off.
The first time the police had purposefully deployed a robot to take a life made it a momentous occasion for all.
4. Ford And His Robot Arm
It is not often that we see a practical robot; the ones we do see are mostly robot arms — those mechanical wonders that have been around since 1954.
They’re the go-to things for repetitive tasks that require computer-programmed precision, and you will find them all over factories.
Now, the idea behind these robots is to make our lives easier and more efficient.
By having them do monotonous and dangerous jobs, humans can focus on less risky work.
It is a noble concept; however, sadly, not everything turns out as expected.
Back in 1979, a tragic accident occurred at a Ford factory. Robert Williams, a factory worker, was tasked with manually counting parts because the robot doing the job was giving inaccurate counts.
Williams had to climb a tall shelving unit to count everything, and while he was up there, another robot that nobody had bothered to disable continued with its job.
It reached out and hit Williams on the head, and he died instantly. Shockingly, nobody noticed what had happened for at least thirty minutes.
Final Words
While robotics and artificial intelligence have clearly made some aspects of our lives better, there are still some serious concerns to safety of humans.
As shown by the sad events mentioned, using robots incorrectly or with malfunctions can have disastrous results.
Which is why, it is crucial to ensure that safety protocols are followed regourisly and that people are in charge of overseeing the development and use of robots.
It’s crucial to strike a balance between robotics and AI’s advantages and any potential hazards to human life.
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