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

"There's no point in making a mistake unless you understand the mistake so that you don’t make it again."
- Alfred Bester

Robot Crab  
  An automated gardener.  

Every passage from this award-winning novel has a sort of lyrical beauty, even when describing common objects.

It was Sunday afternoon and he stood with Molly in a sort of courtyard. White boulders, a stand of green bamboo, black gravel raked into smooth waves. A gardener, a thing like a large metal crab, was tending the bamboo...

The robot crab moved toward them, picking its way over the waves of gravel. Its bronze carapace might have been a thousand years old. When it was within a meter of her boots, it fired a burst of light, then froze for an instant, analyzing data obtained...

The crab had altered course to avoid her, but she kicked it with a smooth precision, the silver boot-tip clanging on the silver carapace. The thing fell on its back, but the bronze limbs soon righted it.

From Neuromancer, by William Gibson.
Published by Phantasia Press in 1984
Additional resources -

The problem of enclosing a power source, mechanics for movement and functionality, sensors and a brain to interpret sensory input is a difficult one. One solution used is to have the robot pause to consider its data.

Comment/Join this discussion ( 3 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Neuromancer
  More Ideas and Technology by William Gibson
  Tech news articles related to Neuromancer
  Tech news articles related to works by William Gibson

Robot Crab-related news articles:
  - Robovac Visualizes Your Home
  - ThereminVision Sensor: Robot Proximity Detection
  - AgBots: Agricultural Robots Take The Field
  - Robot Crab: Crustacean Clockwork Automata
  - Hexbug Robot Crab

Articles related to Robotics
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Lev, Theremin-Playing 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>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

More News

AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
At least they were not the 'rude mechanicals'.

Paralysis Ray Uses Photocontrolled Molecular Switch
Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.

Brine Wells May Swallow Towns
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the Quadraturin essence in 1 cup of water.

Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.

Interactive TV Patent From Sony
Can you dance faster than the White Clown?

Smart Contact Lens With Power Harvesting Circuits
Smart contacts with VR connections.

FOXP2 Tweak Yields Planet Of The Apes?
Get your filthy words off me, you damn dirty ape!

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.