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"Science fiction is the very literature of change. In fact, it is the only such literature we have."
- Frederik Pohl
 |
| Robot Probes (Arr-twos) | ||
| Remote controlled robots that wander through a facility, bringing pictures and information to a central location. |
Niven and Pournelle use small, remote-controlled robots to be the "eyes and ears" of Tony Rand, the chief engineer of a massive arcology, Todos Santos.
| He had to follow the minutiae, because he didn't know what would turn out to be vital.
That led to his development of robot probes; small devices with cameras and sound equipment which could move freely through Todos Santos under Rand's direct control. If he sent out two or three of the small tele-operated devices (he called them Arr-twos after the small droid in Star Wars), Rand could effectively be in several places at once, see machinery and construction details in real time from both above and below, and generally explore without leaving his bedroom. |
| Technovelgy from Oath of Fealty,
by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle). Published by Timescape in 1981 Additional resources -
|
The authors even provide us with some possible limits of the device, particularly during interactions with people:
Compare to remote telepresence robot from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD (1929) by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins) and the proxy robot from Hotel Cosmos (1938) by Raymond Z. Gallun.
Good as the Arr-twos were, with their full two-way communications and their TV screen to show Rand's face, he'd found it necessary to get out and talk to the technicians and carpenters and pipe fitters and maintenance people; talk to them himself, because most construction people didn't like talking to an Arr-two even with Rand's TV image.
This is becoming the preferred model for security guard robots (see links below).
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Oath of Fealty
More Ideas
and Technology by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)
Tech news articles related to Oath of Fealty
Tech news articles related to works by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)
Robot Probes (Arr-twos)-related
news articles:
- Rotundus And Rover: Robotic And Fictional Guardians (Updated)
- PEBBLES Robot - Teleconferencing For Kids At NextFest 2006
- Reborg-Q May You Shop In Peace
- HeadThere Giraffe Telepresence Robot
- DIY Telepresence By Teleoperated Robot
- 7 Day Old Baby Meets Telepresence Robot Dad
- Tmsuk Telepresence Shopper Cell Phone-Controlled
- Rotundus Groundbot Robotic Spherical Guardian Video
- MeBot Robot Avatar Telepresence
- Telepresence Robot Roundup With Anybot
- iRobot AVA Telepresence Robot With iPad
- Videochat Robot: DIY Telepresence Robot
- Kuri Robot Roams Your Home, Taking Pictures
- Double Robotics iPad-Based Telepresence Robot
- Beam Yourself To Distant Places
- Telepresence In The Office
- Temi Robotic Telepresence Roommate
- Ford Uses Obedient Robot Dogs To Update Facilities Maps
| Chaffeur Robot Musashi Will Drive Your Regular Car |
| Shanghai Guidelines For Humanoid Robots |
| Desktop TARS Robot From Interstellar |
| Robots Can Now Have Smiling Faces With Human Skin |
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'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
