It’s the time of year again. The roses are blooming, and so is love everywhere across the globe. It’s almost February 14th–Valentine’s Day! While some people prepare chocolates and cards to celebrate their undying love for their significant others, others brace themselves for another February spent all alone. And sad. And single.
Servo Hertz, a junior at Lowell High School, hopes to celebrate the season of love with something special: a robot. Specifically, a robot named Elphaba, with whom she is currently in a talking stage. “I’m planning to ask her out soon,” she said, “I can really feel the sparks flying between us, and it’s not the sparks from her battery shorting out.”
For Hertz, dating robots isn’t a joke or a phase; it’s simply part of who she is. Since freshman year, she has dated three robots, been in two situationships, and is currently in a talking/near-dating phase with Elphaba (a robot). Unfortunately for her, of the six relationships, four have ended in tragedy, with each of the robots meeting their mechanical (or electrical) demise. Despite these losses, Servo continues to search for her one true love. “I really loved them, but they were broken, and I couldn’t save them,” she said. “I’m really hoping this time will be different.”
Hertz has been very open about identifying as robosexuel, especially within CardinalBotics, Lowell’s elite robotics team, where she often meets her romantic interests. Her first situationship began in freshman year with Crane, an extremely tall robot designed to carry cones and cubes. Before she could realize her love for robots and attraction to Crane, he met his end in a freak accident. Accidentally setting the values in his code incorrectly, an innocent programmer had accidentally caused Crane to flip over and off the 3-foot wooden cart often used by the robotics team.
Later, she dated SR-71 Blackbird, a much smaller robot whose sleek design helped her realize her attraction. “I immediately felt a connection with SR-71 Blackbird,” Hertz said, “No soldering required.” Their relationship came to an end when SR-71 Blackbird met their mechanical demise. As a robot created by inexperienced rookies, they had multiple points of failure that inevitably led to the end.
Battling the heartbreak from the loss of her first love, Hertz found Redbean, a smaller donut-eating robot who helped her heal. They went out on dates, including her favorite: shopping and thrifting among the Hertz Coast products. Unfortunately, her relationship with Redbean also ended abruptly. Literally, when the robot broke down, it never worked again.
By sophomore year, she met Baygull, a tall, elegant, sea-themed robot, and they quickly started dating. That relationship, however, did not last long. Hertz explained the circumstances of her breakup with Baygull, “Baygull was much taller than the previous two robots that I dated. At least two feet taller. I just didn’t feel the same ziptied bond I felt with SR-71 Blackbird or Redbean,” she said.
Most recently, Hertz helped build Demobot, a robot she suspects might have a crush on her. While she is secretly pleased and flattered, the feeling isn’t mutual. “No offense, but honestly, Demobot just isn’t my type,” she said, explaining that she is in love with Elphaba.
Hertz is unapologetic about her preferences. Even in the face of judgment when others question her robomantic choices, Hertz remains unbothered. “I am attracted to robots. That’s a fact,” she said. “They’re beautiful, shiny, colorful, and simply amazing.”
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Hertz is getting more and more excited in the hopes that her relationship with Elphaba will have better structural integrity. “I’m planning to ask her out right after the 9 PM Late Night,” explained Hertz, “Since robotics goes until 9 PM on Fridays, I’m going to ask her under the stars and under the moonlight, and hopefully Elphaba will say yes.” While her past relationships may have ended in tragedy, she is optimistic that this love will remain intact.
