A robot working as a “Robot Supervisor” in Gumi Municipality in South Korea has created a huge debate in the scientific world. The robot committed suicide by throwing itself down the stairs, which was recorded as the first “robot suicide” in South Korea.
In the unusual incident that took place in Gumi Municipality, it was stated that the robot first behaved differently before the incident and started to circle in the same spot by focusing on something invisible. Shortly after, it threw itself down a two-meter staircase and remained motionless on the ground.
Unlike many robots that work at certain intervals and cover more than one floor, the robot worked without a break from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It used an elevator to move between floors.
The reason for the erratic behavior observed in the study conducted on the parts of the robot, which were quickly collected by the city council officials and sent for analysis, is still unknown.
THERE IS ONE ROBOT FOR EVERY TEN EMPLOYEES
In the investigations conducted regarding the incident, it was claimed that the reason for this situation was “overwork”. In South Korea, which is the world leader in technology and robot density, one robot is looking after every ten workers.
The incident raised questions about whether regulations are needed for the welfare of robot workers, apart from the potential problems that could arise in a future where humans and robots collaborate more.
