I wanted a robot so bad when I was younger. Since their was very little chance of one showing up at my family home unexpected I took to entering contests and building simple ones from scrounged motors and cardboard boxes. When I wrapped them in tinfoil and the light was just right and you squinted they were glorious to behold. Right up to the moment they tapped gently into a wall and fell completely to pieces.

I think I can trace my robot mania to a two sources outside of Star Wars:

Roboz from Riptide:

and of course the Robot from Rocky IV

Happy Birthday Paulie