Security robot drowns on job

WASHINGTON, DC (CNN) - A security robot learned the hard way that it can't swim.

The robot, lovingly named Steve, plunged four steps into the water and drowned in a fountain Monday.

Photos show the waterlogged robot cop, a Knightscope K5, partially submerged.

Steve had just started patrolling the Washington Harbour last week.

The robot is designed to "detect unusual activity and report it for humans to investigate," the Knightscope website said.

It's unclear if any foul play was involved or if Steve simply rolled down a dark path on his own.

The loss of the robot inspired some humans to point and laugh.

Bilal Farooqui, who works in the building, commented on Twitter, "We were promised flying cars, instead we got suicidal robots."

Valentina Perez tweeted a photo of a memorial shrine at the building for Steve.

Peter Singer tweeted, "Steps are our best defense against the Robopocalypse."

Knightscope of Mountain View, CA, who built the robot, said a replacement will be sent to Washington Harbour at no charge, NPR reported.

The company also made light of the incident, saying the robot "just wanted to enjoy summer."

Copyright 2017 CNN. All rights reserved. Raycom News Network contributed to this report.