JediBot is an experimental robot cobbled together by students at Stanford University.
(Stanford JediBot)
"It seemed like it would be cool to actually sword-fight against a computerized opponent. Star Wars is pretty much the only movie in which you have swords and robots simultaneously...
It is swinging the sword at me with a series of predefined attack motions, and when it detects hitting my sword it will recoil and move to the beginning of the next attack motion.
Unlike robotics majors, students of science fiction recall other classic sf novels that combine swords and technically advanced cultures. In Dune, Paul Atreides practices against a robotic fencing instructor.
Mechanical Horse Sculpture Gallops In Place
'Rod placed the brain inside the panel... the horse raised its head, wiggled its ears, blinked twice, gave a tentative whinny.' - Christopher Stasheff, 1969.
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.
Orion's 'Skip-to-M'Lou' Entry
'A lightning pilot possibly could land that tin toy without power and still walk away from it provided he had the skill to play Skip-to-M’Lou in and out of the atmosphere...'