A child does not connect the robot to an operator even when the operator is visible. We once worked at a birthday party where all the children were enjoying the robot. After an hour, the operator turned off the robot to take a short break. When the operator explained that MAX had been turned off, all he received from the child was a puzzled look and more tears. Finally, the operator told the child that MAX was just sleeping and that he would wake him up.
Adults look for explanations.
Children look for friends. Robots and alcohol don't mix. There is nothing worse than a drunk, and there is nothing that a drunk hates worse than a machine that is sober. We had several bad experiences with drunks who did everything from pouring a drink on a robot to pushing a robot down a flight of stairs. On one occasion, a drunk became belligerent and followed a robot, trying to start a fight.