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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.

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:

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.

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