Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"As the rate of technological development speeds up, the gap between science fiction and what we’re living now is getting narrower all the time."
- Richard Morgan
 |
| Robot Chef | ||
| Creative, autonomous robotic cook. |
Which would make the better robotic chef; a machine shaped like a person, or something more specialized?
| "...But an android cook would go nuts because man's body isn't enough. I've cooked; I know. So we'll give the usuform more. For instance, give him Martoid tentacles instead of arms. Maybe instead of legs give him an automatic sliding height adjustment to avoid all the bending and stooping, with a roller base for quick movement. And make the tentacles functionally specialized.
 (Usuform robot from 'Robinc' by Anthony Boucher) "Half your time in cooking is wasted reaching around for what you need next. We can build in a lot of that stuff. For instance, one tentacle can be a registering thermometer. tapering to a fine point - stick it in a roast and - One can end in a broad spoon for stirring - heat resistant, of course. One might terminate in a sort of hand, of which each of the digits was a different-sized measuring spoon. And best of all - why the nuisance of bringing food to the mouth to taste? Install taste buds in the end of one tentacle. "I'll bet I know why android cooks were never too successful. Nobody ever included the Verhaeren factor in their brains." |
| Technovelgy from Robinc,
by Anthony Boucher. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1943 Additional resources -
|
See the references for usuform robot and the Verhaeren factor to find out why this robot would be a better cook.
See also the robot cook from Lester del Rey's 1938 short story Helen O'Loy.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 3 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Robinc
More Ideas
and Technology by Anthony Boucher
Tech news articles related to Robinc
Tech news articles related to works by Anthony Boucher
Robot Chef-related
news articles:
- CIROS Robot Makes Your Salad
- AIC-CI Cookingrobot Chinese Robotic Chef
- Robot Chef Makes Octopus Balls
- Robot Chef Learns By Demonstration
- B21 Kitchen Robot Shares Cooking Tips With Other Bots
- Robot Prepares Pancakes For Breakfast
- Robots Should Replace Cafeteria Ladies, Say Students
- Robots Mix, Flip Pancakes Made From Scratch
- Robot Roommates Shop For, Prepare Breakfast
- Noodle-Shaving Robot Army Invades China
| Mika The Robot-Boss |
| Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin |
| Finger Sensors For Robot Hands |
| A Vacuum With An Arm - Engineers Create Heinlein's Hired Girl Robot |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'... he had tightened the chest to gain maximum pumping action from the motion of breathing.'
'...a prayer wheel swung into view and began spinning at a furious pace.'
'And are all the people willing to be governed by a machine?'
'It's an old model,' Rawlins said. 'I'm not sure what to do.'
'the robot-boss was busy at the lip of the new lode instructing and egging the men on to greater speed...'
'He rode the bike with an intense lack of physical grace...'
