C-SweeP0: The government of Oregon City has named the new street-sweeping robot after a loyal servant robot from a galaxy far, far away. Seven-year-old Kennedy Gibb of Oregon City won a contest to name a new street sweeper with the pun “C-SweeP0,” a reference to the affable gold Star Wars robot C-3PO.
The five finalists, including “Spiffy,” “Sweepy Head,” and “Sweepinator,” were uploaded to the city’s Instagram, and Kennedy’s selection was determined by popular vote, according to municipal communications manager Jarrod Lyman.
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During one of their recent visits to the Oregon City Public Library, Kennedy’s mother, Alexis Cardwell, discovered the contest. According to Cardwell, both Kennedy Gibb and her nine-year-old sibling, Marshall Gibb, are avid readers who frequent Cardwell’s bookstore.
Lyman explained that the competition began in late May to coincide with National Public Works Week. The library accepted nominations from children under the age of 17, and the Oregon City library personnel selected the five finalists.
Cardwell stated that Kennedy’s sibling had entered the competition under the name “Sweepy O’John,” but had been eliminated from the final round.
Lyman indicated that the street sweeper would shortly bear a new name, which would also include Kennedy’s name. She was honoured earlier this week at a ceremony in Oregon City, and when the sweeper arrives in the fall, she may give it a whirl. Kennedy responded, “Excited,” to a query about how she felt, and her mother echoed this sentiment.
Lyman praised the team’s ability to come up with a name that did not adhere to the “Boaty McBoatface” pattern. Since a 2016 online referendum to name a British polar research vessel, this cliché has persisted in public naming contests. A Charlotte, North Carolina, street sweeper was formally named “Sweepy McSweepface” in May, following a popular vote.
According to Cardwell, Kennedy’s idea was motivated by her and her companion Kaylen Gibb’s recent decision to begin showing all Star Wars films to their children during their weekly family movie night. She mentioned that R2-D2 and C-3PO are Kennedy’s favourite Star Wars characters and that she donned a T-shirt depicting the two characters to her award ceremony. Cardwell stated that Kennedy will likely wear the same outfit during her ride-along in the street sweeper.
