Robot Goes Missing!

This file photo shows a reporter with Russian TV's Channel 1 interviewing an android version of science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick at the NextFest 2005 in Chicago.
Photo: AFP

Philip K Dick is missing.

Not the American science fiction writer whose novels spawned hit films such as Blade Runner and Total Recall -- he died more than 20 years ago -- but a state-of-the-art robot named after the author.

The quirky android, was lost in early January while en route to California by commercial airliner.

"We can't find Phil," said Steve Prilliman of Dallas-based Hanson Robotics, which created the futuristic robot with the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis, the Automation and Robotics Research Institute at the University of Texas at Arlington and Dick's friend Paul Williams.

"We're very worried because it's been a few weeks now," said Prilliman. "We're pressing hard to find Phil."

Robotics wizard and lead designer David Hanson built the robot as a memorial to Dick, whose 1968 book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? inspired the 1982 classic Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford.

Short stories by Dick, who died in 1982, served as inspiration for other hit films including the 1990 Total Recall, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the 2002 Minority Report, starring Tom Cruise.

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Oh Good, my upstairs neighbor is a nutjob part 2, and ESVC stuff...

a coupla weeks ago he attempted to keep us from "slamming" our front door by actually jamming something into the lock. we got the landlord involved at this point, who didn't seem surprised, and sent a repairman out toot sweet. landlord musta told the upstairs neighbor to watch it, cuz its been pretty quiet. then yesterday, the neighbor was in the basement, apparently upset cuz he couldn't do laundry (we have seperate washing machines, but one tub that both drain into--if both washing machines run, the tub overflows). suddenly, the DSL goes out and the phone gets really fuzzy, and the neighbor bolts from the house and leaves until last night. Now, I can't prove it, but it seems clear to me that the guy yanked on a coupla phone cables, probably breaking or fraying some of them. I can't prove anything (hence no call to the cops) cuz the phone cables thru the basement are some sort of rat's nest due to a good 90 years or so of retrofitting old equipment. We got the landlord involved again, tho i haven't heard back on the result of that. fortuately we have line backer insurance w/ our phone service, so someone will be out today to work on it. But in the meantime Jen has to stay home today to let the workers in.

i am pissed.

on a lighter note, ESVC is back up and running. we've lost one member and added another--Grant Richter, the inventor of the Wiard synthesizer, and member of seminal space rock band F/i and the Midwest Experimental Music Ensemble (MEME). from the sound of practice yesterday, we really shoulda gotten this guy involved a lot sooner. I am quite excited about where this will all go.

here's a coupla Pre-Grant sound files, recorded live at the Flux Show in November. Good stuff, it was our best show to date! Unfortunately you kind of miss out on Jamal's and George's stunning video work that went with these, but it'll help you get the idea. it sure ain't rock n roll, tho.

Call to Prayer37MB, 14 minutes.

11-05c30MB, 13 minutes.

hope y'all have a fast connection...