Bum Bot

April 23, 2008 - Terrill has had it with drug dealers, thieves, and vandals who roam the streets outside his downtown bar, O'Terrill's Pub . A teleoperated robot built from a three-wheeled scooter and an old meat smoker (see video further down on this page). Terrill sends the bot to the neighboring daycare center while he remains safely positioned up the block. Using a walkie-talkie, he instructs "suspects" to leave and informs them they are trespassing.

Terrill uses it to scare away the local drug pushers and street prostitutes who gather near his establishment. He uses the robot at night to get homeless people to stay out of the area. He's patrolling private property, hasn't used the water gun yet, and will call the police if a particular bum is uncooperative. Terrill's accomplishment, but compared to robots that can independantly guide patients and visitors through a hospital, it's a far cry. On the one side you have a home-made contraption basically built from scraps that were on-hand and on the other side you have a precision-crafted machine designed and programmed for a specific purpose.

Terrill, an engineer by trade, is also a board member at the day care center. Tired of cleaning up after the shady characters, he decided to take action. He's busy building Bum Bot 3000 with an air canon capable of launching nets! Terrill bought his bar four years ago knowing nothing about the restaurant business. He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of Georgia in 2006. Terrill, for his part, seems dedicated to resurrecting his neighborhood -- his way. Each night, he and the Bum Bot chase the same vagrants from the child care center.

Terrill is also broadcasting the exploits of the 'bot on wide screen tvs back at his bar. So you can sit at his bar and sip your beer and watch the 'bot roust the homeless. Terrill explains the differences, “(Bum Bot) is just a little powder-puff version of some of the things I’ve built for the military”. Terrill is chasing out unsavory-looking characters from a street corner that resembles a drug dealer's dream at night. More than 20 suspicious people were seen huddling in the dark in the front driveway and side parking lot on this night.

Terrill said his efforts have been criticized by some, who suggest he’s out to get the homeless. One person who’s been face-to-um, face with the robot told him it’s inhumane to use a machine against people. Terrill, a 57-year-old ex-Marine, asserts his motives are pure: He's had no break-ins since the cube-shaped robot, which Terrill controls with a remote, has roamed the area. An environmental engineer by day, Terrill gathered the makings of his vigilante for three months.

Street people say it's intimidating. And homeless advocates question the intentions of its inventor, who uses the Bum Bot as a marketing tool and a political prop.

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