Robot Gets Revenge After Drunk Guy Picks Fight

A crime-fighting robot wasn't able to prevent a drunk guy from attacking it—but it did get the last laugh, er, whistle, according to police. Authorities say Jason Sylvain, 41, knocked down the 5-foot-tall, 300-pound Knightscope K5 security droid—which is equipped with a camera, per Ars Technica, and whistles and spins in a circle when it detects a crime—as it was patrolling Knightscope's parking lot in Mountain View, Calif., last Thursday. The robot, which suffered some scratches, was the clear loser in the fight, though it was a rather one-sided affair since K5 doesn't have any arms. The droid got its revenge, however, by sounding its alarms, reports CNET.

Knightscope rep Stacy Dean Stephens says Sylvain tried to flee when the alarms sounded, but was restrained until police arrived. A police rep says he was charged with prowling and public intoxication after officers noted he “appeared confused, had red, glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol emitted from him." According to Stephens, "the robot did exactly as it was supposed to do—the 'assault' was detected and immediately reported." The fact that Sylvain was arrested is "a testament to the technology," the company adds, per ABC 7. While the Verge wonders if this marks the start of "robo-human wars," Knightscope notes K5 recovered quickly and is back on patrol. (A robot with "no function" roams a desert.)