Sci-Fi superfan spent £20k creating replica robot that he now takes trick-or-treating

A local dad has created the ultimate Halloween spectacle - a 6ft robot that he takes trick-or-treating.

Sci-Fi superfan, Ryan Howard, created the replica Johnny 5 robot as an homage to his favourite film Short Circuit.

It has been a unique passion project for the 34-year-old dad, who says he loves seeing people’s reactions when they spot Johnny 5 on the streets.

He spent six years tinkering away in his garage, forking out £20,000 to recreate the adorable android from the cult 1986 film.

His creation is a head turner that is causing people to ‘slam their car brakes’ so they can get a better look. Ryan says his robot is programmed to be fully functional and can ‘walk’ to the shops and even to the pub and local shops.

Halloween has seen Johnny 5 go trick-or-treating, which delights people of all ages.

Dad-of-two Ryan said: "It’s something I’ve been wanting Johnny to do for a couple of years now but never really got around to it.

"This year we thought we’d go for it, dress him up as a ghost, of sorts, and take him trick-or-treating around the local area.

"We had cars slamming on their brakes and people looking very confused as they tried to figure out what they were seeing while Johnny rolled down the street.

"It’s not really that obvious it’s Johnny 5 when he’s got a sheet over his head and it’s dark, he had his red eyes on to make him look a bit scarier.

"The kids all loved it, although some people thought he was ET all covered up like that, but it was great fun and he got a good haul of sweets.

"He had to share them with us though as he obviously can’t eat them.

"I think the adults loved it as much as the children as it is seeing their childhood brought to life as well."

Video footage shows Johnny knocking on the door of Jenna and Chris Glover to the delight of their two children Pippa and Skylar.

The robot can be heard saying "It’s Johnny 5, trick or treat" and replying "Thank you" as he is given a sweet before cheekily calling the family "bozos."

Pippa, eight, told the BBC: "We’ve never actually seen a robot in real life, so when we opened up the door to it, it was amazing."

Ryan says his 200kg (31 stone) creation is "99 percent true" to the original robot and is one of only two fully working Johnny 5’s in the world.

The family recently returned from a convention in Dallas, USA, where they got to meet American actor Steve Guttenberg - the voice of Johnny 5.

Ryan, an engineering student, added: "We got to introduce him to Steve Guttenberg and he was in tears.

“He couldn’t believe it, it was a really special moment."

Ryan was inspired to build Johnny 5 as a life-long fan of the sci-fi comedy.

His hobby involved 14-hour days and missing family holidays as he dedicated his time to building the robot out of more than 10,000 parts.

The incredible replica, made mainly from aluminum, now stands at 6ft tall and can be programmed to talk, sing, dance or do "pretty much anything" Ryan wants him to.

Ryan said previously: "I was always a massive fan of the movie as a child, I had it on VHS which I think I watched until the tape no longer worked.

"He lives with us and is part of the family now. I even talk to him.

"We had no intention of him being able to do all these amazing things, he was just going to be a model in the corner of my room.

"But now I can program him to do pretty much anything.

"Even when I was building him and he was standing in front of me for the first time and I was like ‘oh my god, it’s Johnny 5’.

“It brought the inner child out in me.

"I believe there’s only one other in the world that matches up to this, so what I’ve done is pretty unique."

Johnny 5 is treated like a VIP by Ryan and his family. His wife Stacey, 39, and sons Ewan, 10, and Ben, seven, now take Johnny to events in a modified people carrier.

Ryan said: "We’ve done weddings, conventions, charity events, festivals and school talks to encourage children into engineering and other STEM subjects.

"We’re just really normal people but Johnny has opened up an extraordinary life for us."

Their ‘Johnny 5 Replica Nottingham’ social media pages have over 24,000 followers with posts going viral garnering hundreds of views and reactions.