Sam Hopkins is no stranger when it comes to robots.
The 6-year-old, who aspires to be a teacher, doctor or astronaut when he's older, already owns two books about the mechanical machines.
It came as no surprise, then, when Sam chose to enter a contest giving him the chance to name one of Doctors Hospital's newest additions: the da Vinci surgical robot.
Sam said he chose the name Bud-E "because he would be my friend."
The robot, which includes foot and hand controls, is designed to assist doctors in surgery. At Doctors Hospital, it will be used primarily during prostatectomiesand hysterectomies and other gynecological surgeries, said Anne Cordeiro, the community relations manager at the hospital.
After winning the contest, Sam viewed the robot he named.
"You could control it," said the first-grader at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Evans. "It had a TV, too."
More than 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 entered the hospital's Name the Robot contest, Ms. Cordeiro said.
"The way we explained the robot to the kids is that it helps people feel better faster," said Ms. Cordeiro, who was in charge of the contest.
A panel of seven Living Well Committee members selected their favorite entries in two age categories, in addition to the overall category.
The name Sam chose received the most votes.
Sam's mother, Diane Hopkins, said her son came home with the contest application after attending Kids University at Augusta State University.
"By the time I had read the application, he was already telling me: 'I want to name him Bud-E. I think that would be a good name,' " the Evans mother said.
Ms. Hopkins said Sam, whose nickname at home happens to be Buddy, also took some inspiration from the movie WALLE, which the family had just seen in the theater.
Because of Sam's interest, Ms. Hopkins said, their also have spent time discussing robots.
"The idea that they could be your friend, be cute, be helpful and be something other than just functional I think is very interesting to him as a little boy," she said.
Initially, Ms. Hopkins said, she was worried the judges would think the name Bud-E was too similar to WALL E.
"I tried to actually suggest a few of my own (names) and get him thinking in another direction, and he absolutely stuck to his guns," she said.
In July, Fort Discovery held a ceremony for the winners, and the Hopkins' relatives from Atlanta attended the event.
"I have a little video of me," Sam said of his television debut on television station WAGT during the ceremony.
As a prize, Sam won a $150 savings bond and four movie tickets.
Reach Jenna Martin at (706) 868-1222, ext. 109, or jenna.martin@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
