The Philip K. Dick robot has apparently vanished. (Background on PKD android here.) The developers, Hanson Robotics, say that the robot has been missing for weeks. The fact the surrealist SF author's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (and Blade Runner, the film based n the book) involved the search for lifelike "replicants" on the lamb suggests to me that this heist is either a publicity stunt or a prank perpetrated by PKD fans.
From AFP:
"We really need to find him soon because the Smithsonian wants to put him in a travelling collection in the autumn," said (Hanson Robotics's Steve) Prilliman referring to Washington's Smithsonian Institute, an organisation of museums and art galleries…
Prilliman and others close to Phil baulked at giving too many details about his disappearance including the name of the airline that was transporting the robot when he went missing.
Hanson officials said news of Phil's disappearance could hamper the ongoing investigation and search for the robot.
The company officials said they feared ransom demands might be made or Phil could turn up listed for sale on an internet auction house such as eBay.
UPDATE: ADM points out the excellent unintentional pun above! Alan says, "It's supposed to be "on the lam" but "on the lamb" is great because you're talking about "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep."
