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Audi Robot Yearns For An Upgrade
In the following video, a robot yearns for an upgrade; it's an Audi commercial and not a real robot.
(Audi: Robot yearns for an upgrade)
The interesting thing to me about this ad is that the topic seems to be lifted straight out of Philip K. Dick's 1955 short story Nanny. In the story, the nanny robot can't compete with the newer, tougher models:
Behind them Nanny came, trudging slowly, her treads clicking noisily. The dragging grapple had been repaired, and a new optic unit had been installed... But the smooth coordination of the old days was lacking..."She was in the repair shop," Bobby announced. "I guess she got sort of tired. She's old, Daddy says. I heard him and Mommy talking."
Will the social robots of the future confide in us? Will they share their troubles with us? Philip K. Dick's robots certainly did.
From Singularity Hub via Frolix_8.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/21/2011)
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Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Robots Repair And Modify Themselves
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...' Harry Harrison, 1956.
Robot Janitors Get To Work
'A few mechanical cleaning devices crept here and there...'- Philip K. Dick, 1957.
Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves
This is nothing new for science fiction fans!
Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons
'That little robot rabbit knew what it was talking about...' - JW Groves, 1950.
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 Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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