W.I.S.O.R. the Robo-Welder

Beneath New York's streets is a marvel of engineering, a steam system consisting of a network of 103 miles of pipes--"lungs of steel" that deliver electricity, water, gas, and steam to more than 2,000 buildings. But the century-old system is in constant need of repair, a perilous proposition for human workers who would face 300-degree temperatures. Enter W.I.S.O.R., the proposed robotic solution to fix neighborhood-incapacitating leaks. The eight-foot-long, 700-pound machine would be required to walk, stand and contract. Gratuitous camera and editing tricks and an increasingly intrusive robot-voiced commentator distract from but do not overwhelm this compelling true story of how Honeybee Robotics created this remarkable robo-welder. Sure to be appreciated by fans of cable TV's build-it-yourself series Battle Bots and Junkyard Wars, this is also a timely celebration of America "can do" and "I will deliver" ingenuity realized by a multicultural team. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Lee Benson)