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"...the space defense initiative drove the USSR bankrupt, and it originated at my house in Tarzana."
- Larry Niven
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| Spider | ||
| A robotic device that both extruded cable and climbed along it; a space construction robot. |
The Spider is a robot designed for speed in bridge-building; it extrudes the cables and works faster than any other component. They were well adapted for a free space environment.
| The two great ovoid bodies were hanging near the surface of the asteroid, about a hundred meters apart. The eight thin metallic legs were pointed downwards, balanced delicately a few centimeters clear of the surface. Between them, probing deep into the interior of the asteroid, was set the long proboscis. As Rob watched, the great, faceted eyes turned towards him. The Spiders were aware of his presence. Somewhere deep in their organic components lurked a hint of consciousness.
Corrie had been fascinated by them from the first moment she saw one. "Why eight legs?" she had asked. Rob had shrugged. "It extrudes material like a spider. How many legs wouldi you have given it? |
| From The Web Between the Worlds,
by Charles Sheffield. Published by Not Known in 1979 Additional resources -
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Spider-related
news articles:
- Spidernaut, Orbital Construction Robot
- Robotic Space Spiders To Crawl Sub-Orbital Web
- Robot Fabricates Endless Tools For Itself (Updated)
- Robonaut To Get Eight-Legged Spidernaut Configuration?
- SpiderFab Spider Robots To Weave Space Structures
- Archinaut 3D Printing Autonomous Space Manufacturing System
- Siemens 3D Printing Robot Spiders
- RAMST - Robotically Assembled Modular Space Telescope
- Digital Construction Platform Robot 3D Prints A Building
- Spider Flyer Walker Space Suit For Mars Astronauts
| Space Drones - UK's Effective Space To Launch Rocket Tugs |
| ELROI Satellite 'License Plate' |
| Bezos Invites You To New Life In Off-World Colonies |
| Build Your Own Space Suit For Cheap |
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'It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof.'
'...lifted themselves to skimming flight upon whirling helicopters."
'Twenty rocket tugs towed it from its Earth hangar out into space.'
I don't need it to go fast, it just needs to amble along.
'The program raced up the screen one scan line at a time, subtly smoothing, deleting and coloring.'
'... a sound tape to supply the noise'
