Researchers Create Vomiting Robot To Analyze Contagions

iComp points out an interesting project in Derbyshire, northern England. "Bioboffins at the Health and Safety Laboratory in Derbyshire, UK, have developed a robot that can projectile vomit on command as a tool for studying the spread of the highly infectious norovirus. Reuters reports that the hyperemetic droid has been dubbed 'Vomiting Larry' by its creator, researcher Catherine Makison, who describes it as a 'humanoid simulated vomiting system.' The goal of said vomiting system is to study the reach and dispersion of human vomitus, which is one of the primary ways that diseases such as norovirus can spread. Norovirus is a fairly common viral infection that is sometimes known as the 'winter vomiting bug' due to its increased prevalence in the colder months. Outbreaks are generally triggered when humans ingest contaminated food or water, but can continue when subsequent people come in contact with surfaces that have been contaminated by the initial patient's effluvium."

Re:

[Cryacin]

After his comment, the sales of regurgitating robots exponentially increased.

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[pollarda]

Since toy guns are now a major taboo, I think that a Vomiting Larry should be part of every kids playground arsenal.

Oh, great...

[Shoten]

"Two bots and a cup."

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[ArsenneLupin]

Except that the girls used chocolate ice-cream, whereas the robots use (produce...) strawberry...

Just what I always wanted:

[Tablizer]

a Puke-A-Tron 5000

Old News

[hyades1]

We already have a vomiting robot. Every time my buddy mixes beer and wine, he turns into the ReTardis. We call him that because, based on production, he has to be larger inside than outside.

Reminds me of...

[WrecklessSandwich]

http://anarchycamp.tumblr.com/post/18845167175/ive-made-a-robot-that-screams-why [tumblr.com]
I've made a robot that s/screams/vomits!
Why?

Seriously, that's the best they could do?

[Krishnoid]

• Barfin' Bender
• Chundering Cherry (2000)
• Emetic Eliza
• Gagging Gort/GlaDOS
• Heavin' Hal
• Puking Pintsize (I had trouble finding one for P)
• Ralphin' Rachael
• Tossing Terminator / Twiki
• Vomiting V.I.N.CENT

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[Anonymous Coward]

Vomitron
Optimus Puke
R2-D Spew

This is fun.

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[azalin]

HAL Ninethrowsup

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[Canazza]

Upchucking UNIVAC?

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[scharkalvin]

How about.....

Astro Barf
Retching Robbie
Uran Upchuck
Coughing Cobalt
Maximilian Meltdown
Deadly Data

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[jmsp]

How about Mr. Creosote [imdb.com]?

Huh?

[WGFCrafty]

Why is it hyperemesis? Doe it puke like the chick from the exorcist with power washer strength?

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[Gordonjcp]

Pretty much, and continuously. Have you seen someone with norovirus?

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

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[ArsenneLupin]

Back end into the toilet, and at the same time, front-end into the bidet conveniently placed next to the toilet. Advantage: you can multitask. Disadvantage: yes, you do need to swirl...

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[Dins]

TMI

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[MozeeToby]

Yes.

We had this hit after my sister's wedding a few years ago. It is an insanely bad 12-36 hours; I personally lost more than 10 lbs over the course of 24 hours (most of it water weight, but still). It's vomiting and diarrhea the like of which only exists in horror movies and it is insanely communicable. If someone around you has a case you will get it yourself. Hand sanitizers don't kill it effectively, it survives 12 hours on solid rock and 12 days on fabrics, and the shear force of the vomiting ensur

IG Nobel Prize

[fufufang]

I bet this will be one of the winner in IG Nobel Prize for this year.

Now that's science reporting I can get behind!

[tchdab1]

And definitely not in front of.

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[antdude]

So you want a diarrhea and farting one? :P

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[ArsenneLupin]

As opposed to vomitting, and burping one...

They should have named it Hurley

[toygeek]

subject says it.

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[dr_dank]

::begin subroutine:: If you wanna be cool and bang chicks like us, you gotta prove you're no homo by holding the cock of the guy in front of you and parading around campus. Sigma ruleZ!!!!!

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[Bill Currie]

I suggest you brush up on your grammar. "projectile" is being used as an adverb, not a verb. However, "projectile" and "vomit" together form a compound verb. No different to "nose dive" or "duck walk".

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[Sockatume]

Leave the poor creature with its innocence, any person who has never had reason to meet the term "projectile vomit" has led a blessed life.

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[Sockatume]

No, it is a perfectly standard compound verb and you'll probably find it in whatever dictionary you have to hand. http://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=projectile+vomit%2Cdwarf+planet&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share= [google.com]

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[Sockatume]

Actually, to emphasise the point, I'd recommend a medical reference dictionary.

Goal of the project?

[kubajz]

I wonder what was the cost of building the robot balanced against the scientific utility. If the main finding is that it can vomit up to 3 meters far, how certain can they be that the distance is simulated effectively? Perhaps by comparing to "live" vomiters, but that would defeat the purpose of building the robot in the first place...? Also, I would assume that there is some probability distribution for the distance the vomit flies from different mouths (writing this sentence, yes I can see the IG Nobel no

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[toonces33]

I had read somewhere that they had found that some of the vomit was in the form of an aerosol that spread in the air. They had used a fluorescent dye in their fake vomit to discover this..

I guess it gives them a better idea how large a radius needs cleaning after someone with norovirus pukes.

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[oldelpaso]

I used to work at HSL, left about 5 years ago. It has an unusual remit. Its origins are in providing scientific support to the Health and Safety Executive (e.g. accident investigations, providing scientifically sound guidance to HSE inspectors etc.) but it does a lot of research into wider occupational/public health areas too. It also has some of the UK's leading experts in the effects of fire and explosions, and a fair amount of work done there relates to that - most of the fireworks authorised for sale

Vomiting robot?

[Andrio]

It's only a matter of time before this ends up in Spencer's Gifts.

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[toonces33]

How about the Apple store as an iBarf.

I never get invited...

[toonces33]

to those sorts of parties. Probably just as well - if I knew ahead of time that there was a puking robot, I might stay home. Or show up wearing a wet suit.

You could probably hook up the robot to work as a sort of fountain in a swimming pool however.

Should be scanned

[Snufu]

for a stomach virus.

Garbage Pail Kids

[gonzo_ks]

Am I the only one who feel these names sound like garbage pail kids?

Payback is going to be a bitch

[tippe]

If robots ever rise up and squash us, it'll be because we did shit like this to them. Just watch, payback is going to be a bitch. First they'll puke on us, then they'll make us clean up their puke. Oh, the bitter irony...

Mints

[techdolphin]

Vomiting is caused by viruses. I thought it was caused by eating one thin little mint.

Sweet! I Should Get One!

[Greyfox]

It'd be just like being back in college with my frat rat roommate! Hey Robot, want another beer?

Bulimic Bob

[rtobyr]

It's in the title.

I'd rather see

[CosaNostra Pizza Inc]

I'd rather see a robot that's fueled by alcohol, belches flames, is a kleptomaniac and has humorous catchphrases like "Kill all humans" and "Bite my shiny metal ass".

Strange Attractor: If I'm vomited on let it be her

[neurocutie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s_BqdZrUbE [youtube.com] (barfing barbie)