Home | Glossary | Timeline | New

Science Fiction in the News Articles
Related to material in Runaway
by Michael Crichton

Very entertaining movie written and directed by Michael Crichton appeared in 1985. The film has a surprising number of very well conceived "robots" depicted as doing work in a variety of settings. The basic premise is that, in the near future, robots will be lending a helping hand everywhere - and sometimes they malfunction. When that happens, a specialized police unit moves in.

The movie itself is fun to watch; Gene Simmons of the band KISS is excellent as the evil chip-designing mastermind. Tom Selleck, Cynthia Rhodes and Kirstie Alley round out the main cast members. Take a look at the trailer:

Science fiction in the News articles describe real-world events that relate to the ideas and inventions in sf novels and movies. Select a news article:

AnBot Security Robot WILL Tase You, Bro
   Michael Crichton right again.

RISE Robot: Six-Legged BIODYNOTICS Runaway
   RISE robots from DARPA come uncomfortably close to the killer-spider-robots from a 1986 movie.

Cylogic Smart Avenger Runaway Project
   Just don't let Gene Simmons of KISS get one of these planned smart missiles - you saw what he did with smart bullets in Runaway.

SPOT-NOSED Nanobiosensors For Doctors
   The electronic nose doesn't quite know, but soon will, based on this research.

N.S.E.C.T. Robotic Attack Insect From Tyco
   This so-called toy is a terrifying realization of the deadly insect robots in Crichton's Runaway; Gene Simmons, beware!

SPIKE Fire-And-Forget Missile World's Smallest
   If this tiny missile gets any smaller, you're going to have to see reruns of Crichton's Runaway to find out more.

HortiBot - Autonomous Weed 'n Feed AgBot
   This robot has handy, yet deadly, attachments to fight our weed enemies.

Micro Air Vehicle In Use In Iraq
   This waste-basket-sized vehicle lets you see what's happening just ahead - maybe even on Hoth.

Robotic Flying Saucer Drones
   This company also has big plans for this little unmanned aerial vehicle.

Honeywell Micro Air Vehicle Tested By Miami Police
   Tested extensively in Iraq, the Honeywell MAV is on its way to your neighborhood as part of police surveillance.

Aeryon Scout UAV Like In Crichton's Runaway
   Didn't I see this same device in the 1985 Michael Crichton movie Runaway?

Wall-Climbing Robots Use Compliant Electroadhesion
   These robots have a unique way of sticking to just about any surface.

Mii Avatar Wanted Poster For Non-Virtual Manhunt
   This story could go in either of two ways - not surprisingly, I like them both. With a surprise reference to Michael Crichton's Runaway.

A-Pod Robot Hexapod Video
   Is there an uncanny valley for insectile robots? If so, this one is wiggling right on through it.

Surveillance By Flying Saucer
   UPDATED with new sf reference and video. Very well-behaved saucer-shaped surveillance drone certainly looks more cool than other hovering drones.

SIL06 Robot Land Mine Detector
   This hexapod robot uses an alternating tripod-style gait and a sensor head to locate dangerous land mines.

Toyota Delivery Robot Home Helper
   This one-armed prototype could be pretty handy around the house, especially if you're laid up.

Dancing DIY Hexapod Robot Video
   Take a look at this learning robot and enjoy the soundtrack on the video, which sets a new standard for robotic presentation.

Quadrotor UAV Makes First Arrest In UK
   Looks like a UAV has assisted in its first arrest in the UK.

DreamROBO Climbing Robots
   Climbing the walls like dedicated salarymen.

KMR-M6 Hexapod Robot
   Take a look at the video to see how quick this six-legged robot really is.

Bioelectronic Nose To Have Biomimetic Chemical Sensors
   How many uses can you think of for a bioelectronic nose?

Switchblade Surveillance Missile
   'You've heard of a bullet that has your name on it.'

Self-Guided Bullet Accurate Over One Mile
   'The back half is all solid propellant. Valves for directional control ... look, it's all electronic.'

LaWS Laser Can Take Out Rogue Drones
   Looks like a weapon for the Runaway squad!

Laser-Guided Smart Bullet Prototype
   'Look, it's all electronic...'

Lettuce-Bot Weed-Killing Robot Funded
   A new alternative to labor-intensive farming techniques.

Nanotech Electronic Nose Sniffs Explosives Like Dogs
   'It's picking up diphenyl compounds and tetrahydrocarbons...'- Michael Crichton, 1985.

Robot Fabrication In Architecture RobArch 2012
   Robots will build the future -starting with the buildings.

Robots Race Ahead - On Cockroach Legs
   Robots will one day keep their balance as well (or better) than you and I.

EXACTO Smart Bullet From DARPA
   Nicely visualized in what 1984 movie?

Promobot, The Runaway Russian Robot!
   'Got yourself a runaway, Jack?' - Michael Crichton, 1985.

Oh Great, Fence-Climbing Robots
   How long till they add the acid-tipped stingers?

3D Printed Car Can Launch POV Drone
   Just the thing for the Runaway squad - and you and me.

Hadrian X Construction Robot From Fastbrick Robotics
   Hope Hadrian is never a runaway!

Autonomous Oz Weeding Robot
   "Got yourself a runaway pest controller.' - Michael Crichton, 1985.

The In Situ Fabricator Construction Robot
   In Situ Fabricator looks too careful to be a runaway!

TITAN-III Spider Robot Is WAY Too Quick (Video)
   'My little friends can find you wherever you go!' - Michael Crichton, 1984.

Tiny Tertill Autonomous Weeding Robot
   'And it's only programmed to look for things smaller than an inch." - Michael Crichton, 1985.

Autonomous Concrete Floor Finishing Robot
   Keep those construction site robots coming.

Drywall Robot Looking For Sheetrock
   Sheetrockers have sure changed since my day. Speaking as someone who as done this, I welcome robots.

Stratuscent Electronic Nose
   'It's picking up diphenyl compounds and tetra hydrocarbons.' - Michael Crichton, 1985.

E-Nose NOS.E Knows Whiskey With One Sniff
   'It's picking up diphenyl compounds and tetrahydrocarbons...' - Michael Crichton, 1985.

Scent-Identifying Robot Uses Machine Learning
   'It's picking up diphenyl compounds and tetrahydrocarbons...' - Michael Crichton, 1985.

TM-62 Loitering Ground Landmine
   Runaway movie comes to life!

Bullet Steers Itself! The Advanced Low-Cost Munitions Ordnance ALaMO
   'You've heard of a bullet that has your name on it.' - Michael Crichton, 1985.

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

Science Fiction
in the News

More SF in the News