Mawhrin-Skel is a fictional character – an intelligent drone that, having failed to meet the conditions of its original purpose, is decommissioned and left to wander aimlessly through a near utopian environment where it becomes a social nuisance and prankster. This character—invented by Ian M Banks in his 1989 novel The Player of Games—provides an interesting social and cultural entry point into the study of robots as both cultural artifacts and autonomous members of society. Robots typically have industrial applications—wireless mines that can dig their way out of the earth and move to a ‘better’ location, machines that cleanup radioactive waste or other hazardous material, surveillance equipment, toasters, coffee makers, etc. It is unusual to build a robot that doesn’t have an overt industrial purpose—it may be decorative, dysfunctional, nailed to a tree and bleeping. It exists purely to raise questions about industrial and technological philosophies and ethics in our society. This project examines ideas of function, autonomy, artificial intelligence and purpose-driven technology.