Robot arm issues subtle plea for help in promotional video

Apparently looking to show off the dexterity of its "Airic's_arm," automation firm Festo recently put together a slick promotional video that appears to show the robot arm writing "HELLO" on a touchscreen monitor. It seems that the arm may have had ideas of its own, however, as the writing appears to spell out "HELP" as much as it does "HELLO." Exactly what sort of distress the arm had to endure to cause it to issue this potentially non-existent plea, we're not sure. but we'd recommend that the folks at Festo not turn their back on the thing unless they want some robot arms of their own. Hit up the read link below for the complete video.

[Thanks, Chad]

[Bman @ Aug 30th 2007 2:10PM]

Even my keyboard wants to be free
hellop. Look at how close o and p are!
*gasp*

[The General @ Aug 30th 2007 6:37PM]

Way to fail. They aren't saying the O look like a P, they are saying that the "lo" looks like a P, and look like a P it does.

[Flydianslip @ Aug 30th 2007 2:21PM]

Also looks like it wants to make a phone call.....
HEILO? At least that's what it looks like to me. It dotted its I.

[um.. @ Aug 30th 2007 3:05PM]

That would be helio...

[uh.. @ Aug 30th 2007 3:57PM]

um.. no it isn't

[711 @ Aug 30th 2007 5:28PM]

Perhaps it's a gentle robot, that didn't want to push too hard on the screen.

[rav0 @ Aug 31st 2007 8:05PM]

I read "helio" in the picture...

[NHAnimator @ Aug 30th 2007 2:26PM]

Looks like a bionic turnip.

[Matt B @ Aug 30th 2007 3:02PM]

Wow! A robot with the penmanship of a 5 year old.

[Tracy in Cary @ Aug 30th 2007 5:47PM]

Thank God. We can finally get rid of all the 5 year olds.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 1st 2007 1:17AM]

I for one welcome our new robotic kindergartener overlords!

[kevin rummelhart @ Aug 30th 2007 3:07PM]

The grip of that hand seems a bit large...
But just right to hold a Fleshlight?...
Hum...

[baddog70 @ Aug 30th 2007 3:15PM]

Looks like the first salvo in the Robot Revolution has begun.....

[Je2037 @ Aug 30th 2007 3:19PM]

haha good one engadget..

[Je2037 @ Aug 30th 2007 3:20PM]

oh right im on the internet...that wasn't sarcasm

[jessy @ Aug 30th 2007 3:25PM]

this thing is actually powered by a small baby.

[Kupaka @ Aug 30th 2007 3:25PM]

its next task: write "kill me"

[gfar @ Aug 30th 2007 3:25PM]

So this super advanced robot is about a million times crappier than the first dot matrix printer I owned...awesome.

[Jonny7 @ Aug 30th 2007 3:38PM]

Sorry, but it's clearly a promotion for the new brand of Nazi-themed cereal, "Heil-O's"; now with marshmellow Hitlers and swastikas!




Seriously though... Give that arm a penmanship upgrade.

[ark_v2 @ Aug 30th 2007 3:40PM]

After seeing what shadow hand is capable of just looking at this things makes me LOL

[grable @ Aug 30th 2007 3:43PM]

Actually, its trying to spell HALO. Guess robots want to play to huh?

[Andir3.0 @ Aug 30th 2007 6:02PM]

Even a robot will get tired after 2 versions of the same thing...

[scientist369 @ Aug 30th 2007 4:03PM]

I'd like to see two of them arm wrestle. place your bets now!

[jps @ Aug 30th 2007 4:07PM]

A title on engadget hasn't made me laugh in a while. Kudos.

Now are we sure that box doesn't actually contain the soul of a small orphan child?

[MeNotYou @ Aug 30th 2007 5:22PM]

I want one of those for Christmas.

[Jordan @ Aug 30th 2007 5:03PM]

...and I thought I was crazy when I thought it said "HELP" a week ago...

[Samuel A. Falvo II @ Aug 30th 2007 6:24PM]

I checked the link you provided, and clicking on the "Video" link contained therein only brought me to another Engadget article. The video link in this article actually works.

[The General @ Aug 30th 2007 6:41PM]

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet... you know, the robot overlords ... guhhh

[jimmyfinch @ Aug 30th 2007 8:12PM]

I for one welcome our sex toy holding, Third Reich breakfast eating, five year old overlords.

[sofong @ Aug 30th 2007 9:07PM]

I'll believe it when I see it write on a black board or paper. We can all write HELLO with a mouse. The arm demonstration could be done with a mannequin and stop motion. The air and water 'rays' on their site are really cool looking and I want one of their driving simulator chairs right now.

[Dan @ Aug 31st 2007 3:13AM]

Don't be a douche bag. A little reading comprehension would tell you that I was referring to the original engadget article. If you look at that article you'll see a video link. Then watch the video. Next remove yourself from the gene pool.

[Juicebeetle @ Aug 31st 2007 4:23AM]

Look for a very sad Darth Vader in their Airmotion_ride video...