When robot factories go to war
2011-02-25

Maybe you should wait here while we get the parts.

I'm inclined to agree.

Yea! The human is staying with us!

Are you hungry?

Do humans really eat plants?

Did you make us?

Tell us a story!

With princesses!

I should change professions. Winston Thurmad. Babysitting by the ton.

Color by George Peterson

2011-02-28

Read us this one! Read us this one!

Princess PID and the water reclamation system?

It's our favorite!

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. Her skin was the finest titanium alloy, and her code was so elegant that she never wasted a clock cycle.

He tells the story well.

If princess PID were male and human, I bet she'd sound just like him.

Color by George Peterson

PID – proportional-integral-differential regulator.

2011-03-02

And with regular maintenance, princess PID and the water reclamation system functioned properly ever after. The end.

Another story! Tell us another story!

I'm sorry. Winston and I need to go. We have… other robots to visit.

Oh right. The war.

WAR!?!

HUMAN IN DANGER!

That's kind of why I was avoiding the “W” word.

HUMAN IN DANGER!

Color by George Peterson

2011-03-04

There are no humans involved in this war. I'll be safe.

Then stay with us!

I can't. I need to get back on the airplane. I need to stop a war.

AIRPLANES FALL DOWN!

HUMAN IN DANGER!

Little help?

No worries, mate. You're not the first human I've had to rescue from overprotective three year olds.

Color by George Peterson

2011-03-07

Put on the gear I gave you. Cover your eyes, ears, forehead and mouth. This goes into your pocket.

Hug and spin. Walk to the plane, then have Ms. Ambrose come back with my transponder.

I want a hug!

Me too!

Hug me next!

Fly, you fools! I can't distract them with hugs forever!

Color by George Peterson

“At the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, they encounter “Durin's Bane”, a fearsome Balrog from ancient times. Gandalf faces the Balrog to enable the others to escape. After a brief exchange of blows, Gandalf breaks the bridge beneath the Balrog with his staff. As the Balrog falls, it wraps its whip around Gandalfs legs, dragging him over the edge. Gandalf falls into the abyss, crying “Fly, you fools!”.” from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalf#The_Hobbit

The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip, and the thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils. But Gandalf stood firm. “You cannot pass,” he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.”

When robot factories go to war
2011-03-09

This doesn't feel right. We're leaving three years olds out here in the desert alone.

Are you thinking about adopting ten thousand baby robots?

Well, a house really isn't a home without the pitter patter of mechanical feet.

Color by George Peterson

2011-03-11

No. no. no. On the plane. Now give me the transponder.

You can't go around from site to site bringing entire robotic work forces home with you just because they're cute.

That's how crazy cat ladies get started.

Color by George Peterson

2011-03-14

Last hug. I have to go.

Don't go, human! Stay with us!

He's gone! That robot walked up, snapped to where the human was, and the human vanished!

Humans move in strange and mysterious ways.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a super hero! I'm going to be a robot with human powers!

Nuh uh! You gotta get bit by a radioactive upgrade or something before that will happen.

Color by George Peterson

2011-03-16

GOOD BYE! THANKS FOR THE PARTS!

Did you like the trick with the transponder? I picked that one up from Sawtooth.

Is that common knowledge now?

Among factory one robots, pretty much. Next week, we're having a masquerade.

I've got a few spare transponders if you want to come. Here. Try on a tugboat.

Tugboat makes me look broad in the beam. Do you have anything in motorcycle?

Color by George Peterson

2011-03-21

You do not need to worry about these robots. They have many years ahead of them building the fusion plant and surrounding factories.

The challenge arises when the job is done and they have nothing to do. Some of their solutions have been quite creative.

Illuminated technical manuals?

Version 2.0. The illumination was superior in version 1.0, but 2.0 doesn't use radioactive ink.

Color by George Peterson