Device Name |
Book/Story |
Author |
Date |
R. Daneel Olivaw A human-like robot, skilled in police work. |
Caves of Steel |
Asimov |
1953 |
R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) Now the generic term for a small, maneuverable robot. |
Star Wars |
Lucas |
1976 |
Rabbit-Paper A paper pregnancy test that showed immediate results. |
The Game Players of Titan |
Dick |
1963 |
Rachag A caffeine-style stimulant. |
Dune |
Herbert |
1965 |
Radar Detection of objects at a distance. |
Ralph 124c 41 + |
Gernsback |
1911 |
Radar Mesentery A thick covering that supports a network of sensors. |
This Immortal |
Zelazny |
1966 |
Radiant A chip that is injected into the shoulder, providing positioning and information about the subject. |
The Houses of Iszm |
Vance |
1954 |
Radiant Power Receptor (DeKalbs) A device which received and used energy transmitted from a station or satellite. |
Waldo |
Heinlein |
1942 |
Radiant Shield A device that would effectively prevent an implanted radiant from being detected or read. |
The Houses of Iszm |
Vance |
1954 |
Radiation Garment Clothing worn by ordinary citizens to reduce the risk of radiation exposure. |
Waldo |
Heinlein |
1942 |
Radiation Shield A clever use for the water you need to take anyway. |
The Ultimate Weapon |
Campbell |
1936 |
Radiation-Proof Oxygen Suit A specialized space suit for use in radium mining on Jupiter. |
Red Storm on Jupiter |
Long, Jr. |
1936 |
Radio Meteor Detector A device carried by space ships that could detect meteors in space early enough to avoid them. |
Islands of Space |
Campbell |
1931 |
Radioactive Coding for Checks Special coding system to easily recognize checks. |
The Door Into Summer |
Heinlein |
1956 |
Radioactive Ruin The aftermath of atomic war is generations of ruin. |
The World Set Free |
Wells |
1914 |
Radio-Controlled Mechanical Man A remote-controlled robot. |
The Robot Terror |
Huff |
1930 |
Radio-Dirigible Torpedo A drone missile that is controlled remotely by an operator. |
Triplanetary |
Smith |
1934 |
Radio-Facsimile Receiver A device that prints a newspaper in your home. |
Ben Gleed, King of Speed |
Wilcox |
1939 |
Radium Repeller ray Move inbound asteroids aside to keep ships safe. |
The Asteroid of Death |
Jones |
1931 |
Radium Salt Radioactive materials used as an assassination weapon. |
Murder in the Void |
Hamilton |
1938 |
Radium-Action Lighter A personal device used to ignite tobacco products. |
The Worlds of Tomorrow |
Wellman |
1940 |
Radson Skimmer A small vehicle designed for a small number of passengers; capable of low, slow flight. |
This Immortal |
Zelazny |
1966 |
Raisin A small device like a hearing aid that fits inside the external part of the ear; combines an intelligent agent and wireless access to the network. |
Nanotime |
Kosko |
1987 |
Ram Field A specialized version of the hydrogen-gathering field for a Bussard Ramjet. |
Protector |
Niven |
1973 |
Ramrobot An autonomous interstellar exploration craft using gathered hydrogen for fuel. |
The Ethics of Madness |
Niven |
1967 |
Ramsbotham Gate A means of getting from point A to point B without traversing the space in-between. |
Tunnel in the Sky |
Heinlein |
1955 |
Ramscoop An enormous magnetic field precedes a spaceship moving through space, directing interstellar hydrogen inward for use as fuel. |
World of Ptavvs |
Niven |
1965 |
Randominoes Dominoes that randomly generate new numbers. |
Nymphomation |
Noon |
2000 |
Rapid-Transit Hover Blimp Public transportation for a paranoid age. |
Galactic Pot-Healer |
Dick |
1969 |
Rat Thing A guard cyborg created from a living animal. |
Snow Crash |
Stephenson |
1992 |
Rat-Robot A small remotely-operated surveillance robot. |
Anything You Can Do |
Garrett |
1962 |
Raw Material-Tropic Moves towards desirable raw materials. |
Autofac |
Dick |
1955 |
Ray gun A weapon that projects a beam of destructive force. |
The Messiah of the Cylinder |
Rousseau |
1917 |
Ray Gun (Handheld) A weapon shaped like a handgun that shoots rays of energy. |
The Black Star Passes |
Campbell |
1930 |
Ray Pistol A handheld device for projecting radiative force of some kind. |
The Black Star Passes |
Campbell |
1930 |
Ray-Pistol An early version of the raygun. |
The War of the Planets |
Vincent |
1929 |
Raytron Apparatus A device for aerial surveillance; the image was transmitted back to the user. |
Beyond the Stars |
Cummings |
1928 |
Razorback Autonomous motorcycle weapons platform. |
Daemon |
Suarez |
2006 |
Razorgirl Surgically implanted blades under the fingernails. |
Neuromancer |
Gibson |
1984 |
Reaction Attachment Independent maneuvering for space suits. |
The Asteroid of Death |
Jones |
1931 |
Reaction Pistol A hand-held device for maneuvering in zero gravity in a space suit. |
Martian Guns |
Bell |
1932 |
Reaction-Motors A spacecraft engine that works by firing matter out at high speed. |
Twelve Hours To Live |
Williamson |
1931 |
Reactive Walls Wall surfaces designed for use in clubs; they reacted to the music played in the room. |
Freezone |
Shirley |
1985 |
Reading Machine A projector which showed text on a screen or the ceiling for easy reading. |
Stranger in a Strange Land |
Heinlein |
1961 |
Reading Plaque A tablet-sized display for reading. |
Earth |
Brin |
1990 |
Reading Plate A flat screen that provided computer output for viewing. |
The Star Beast |
Heinlein |
1954 |
Readout Skin Normal-appearing skin that can be used as an output device for text or graphics. |
Steel Beach |
Varley |
1992 |
Reality Graphics One-stop design - the final design is the object. |
A Fire Upon The Deep |
Vinge |
1992 |
Reality Tape The medium upon which the life experience of an electric ant - a robotic person - is presented. |
The Electric Ant |
Dick |
1969 |
Reason Hypervelocity Railgun Multichamber weapon accelerates tiny splinters of metal. |
Snow Crash |
Stephenson |
1992 |
Receptor Tape A thin, flexible material that can pick up sounds. |
The Face |
Vance |
1979 |
Reciprocal Name A nickname or familiar name used to specify a more completely defined full name and telephone number. |
The Age of The Pussyfoot |
Pohl |
1966 |
Recoil Pistol A handheld device that permits a spaceman to manuever in zero gravity. |
Exiles of the Moon |
Schachner (w. AL Zagat) |
1931 |
Recorded Books Electronically recorded books. |
Foundation and Empire |
Asimov |
1952 |
Recorded News This is the basic idea behind Tivo and VCRs. |
In the Year 2889 |
Verne |
1889 |
Recorded Personalities Computer firmware that saves a person's characteristics and reactions. |
Mona Lisa Overdrive |
Gibson |
1988 |
Recording Eye A surveillance device that can survive being dropped from space; transmits images in a wide view. |
The Man in the Maze |
Silverberg |
1969 |
Recording Radio A handheld device that both recorded sound and transmitted it live to a remote broadcasting location. |
Four-Day Planet |
Piper |
1961 |
Recycler A surgically implanted device that enables a diver to obtain oxygen directly from seawater. |
Starfish |
Watts |
1999 |
Red Weed (Terraforming Plant) A plant brought by the Martians that grew on Earth. |
The War of the Worlds |
Wells |
1898 |
Reflectocosmic Spectrometer A device that detects and measures cosmic rays that reflect from different metals. |
Buck Rogers, 2430 AD |
Nowlan (w/D. Calkins) |
1929 |
Refreshing Chamber Replaces the bathroom in the future history of Robert Heinlein. |
Coventry |
Heinlein |
1940 |
Refrigeration Tape A strip of material that can be used to keep large tracts of tundra nicely frozen. |
Tower of Glass |
Silverberg |
1970 |
Refurbished Nervous System Your nerves are rewired for 5-10 times the speed of a normal person. |
The Stars My Destination |
Bester |
1956 |
Regen-Buds Small collection of cells that can regrow into human limbs. |
The Velvet Glove |
Harrison |
1956 |
Regeneration Tank A nutrient bath large enough to enclose a person that preserved life and treated disease. |
Contagion |
MacLean |
1950 |
Reggie the Bartending Machine A mechanism able to mix drinks; a robot bartender. |
The Outpost |
Resnick |
2002 |
Relations with Extraterrestrial Life Instructions to earth citizens on how to behave when encountering alien civilizations. |
Ogre |
Simak |
1944 |
Relay A central information system used to coordinate all of human culture and technology. |
Souvenir |
Dick |
1954 |
Remote (or Seeker Remote) A training aid for use by Jedi knights. |
Star Wars |
Lucas |
1976 |
Remote Control Taxicab A cab that is piloted by a remote operator. |
The Unreconstructed M |
Dick |
1957 |
Remote Telepresence Robot A very early depiction of this basic idea. |
Buck Rogers, 2430 AD |
Nowlan (w/D. Calkins) |
1929 |
Remote-Cast Snooper A small, easily concealed poison snooper. |
Dune |
Herbert |
1965 |
Remote-Control Slavery Mental control (possibly mediated by radio waves) of individuals of other species. |
The Man in the Maze |
Silverberg |
1969 |
Remotely Operated Auto-targeting Gun (ROAG) A weapon able to pick out its own targets; it's action can be remotely initiated. |
Quantico |
Bear |
2007 |
Repair Drone Autonomous robots repair damage or sabotage. |
Neuromancer |
Gibson |
1984 |
Repair Robots Autonomous robots that carry out maintenance functions on a space ship. |
The Well-Oiled Machine |
Fyfe |
1950 |
Repellor Anti-Gravity Rays Device provides support for planet-side air travel. |
Armageddon: 2419 A.D. |
Nowlan |
1928 |
Replaced Worker Benefits Compensation for people whose jobs are taken by robots. |
Spark |
Twelve Hawks |
2014 |
Replicant An android; an artificial human being. |
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? |
Dick |
1968 |
Reporting Machine A robotic roving reporter. |
The Simulacra |
Dick |
1964 |
Repulsor A device that inhibits the action of a spacewarp drive. |
What Mad Universe |
Brown |
1949 |
Repulsor Ray Fires an invisible beam of electrons for propulsion. |
The Time-Raider |
Hamilton |
1927 |
Repulsor Screen Diverts troublesome asteroids. |
Crystalized Thought |
Schachner |
1937 |
Rescue Nets Nets raised around the circumference of a vast air transport. |
Flight of the Eastern Star |
Repp |
1929 |
Reserve Bracelet A means of sending a message via tiny shocks in code, delivered to the wrist. |
Plague |
Leinster |
1944 |
Residual Poison A poison that, once administered, resides in the body; only regular intake of the antidote keeps the person alive. |
Dune |
Herbert |
1965 |
Resilian A natural fiber that is as strong as steel. |
The Howling Bounders |
Vance |
1949 |
Resting Pits |
Limits |
Niven |
1985 |
Restraining Bolt A device that makes sure a robot does what you want (rather than what it wants). |
Star Wars |
Lucas |
1976 |
Retaliatory Tapeworm (Counter-Worm) Using computers to deliberately damage another person's reputation and well-being. |
The Shockwave Rider |
Brunner |
1975 |
Retard-Jets Rockets to slow down. |
Brother Worlds |
Gallun |
1951 |
Retinal Implant An implanted device that can record and transmit what the person sees. |
The Neutronium Alchemist |
Hamilton |
1997 |
Retinal Light An internal flashlight. |
The Stars My Destination |
Bester |
1956 |
Retinal Projection A method for projecting advertisements directly on the retina. |
The Space Merchants |
Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth) |
1952 |
Retinal Vid-Screen A tiny display surgically implanted directly in the retina of the eye. |
Sales Pitch |
Dick |
1954 |
Retro-Rockets Small boosters to provide a thrust counter to the current velocity of the spacecraft, slowing it down or stopping its progress altogether. |
From the Earth to the Moon |
Verne |
1867 |
Reversal Coils Provide both entry into a negative universe and propulsion. |
The Infinite Enemy |
Williamson |
1938 |
Revitalizer Console. A kind of automated medical marvel; it optimizes your body chemistry for better health, tops off your fluids, etc. |
Millenium |
Varley |
1983 |
Rewriting History Use of sophisticated technology to continuously rewrite the historical record. |
1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) |
Orwell |
1948 |
Rex Regenerator (Mechanotherapist) Mechanotherapy device cures homicidal urges. |
Bad Medicine |
Sheckley |
1956 |
Rhennius Machine Device of alien manufacture, which will reverse, or turn inside out, any object passed through its mobilator. |
Doorways in the Sand |
Zelazny |
1976 |
Rhetorizer A computerized assistant for writers. |
The Penultimate Truth |
Dick |
1964 |
Ribbon World A planet that presents the same face to its sun has a small habitable area - the ribbon between light and dark. |
Foundation and Empire |
Asimov |
1952 |
Riding Robot A single person means of bipedal transportation. |
The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge |
Harrison |
1970 |
Ridulian Crystal Sheets Exceptionally strong, surpassingly thin material. |
God Emperor of Dune |
Herbert |
1981 |
Rifle Range (Virtual Shooting Range) Virtual skeet shooting gallery with clay pigeon traps created by aliens. |
Way Station |
Simak |
1963 |
Right Angle Projectile A missile that turns at right angles after being fired. |
The Mad Metropolis |
High |
1966 |
Rigid Metallic Clothing An early exoskeleton. |
A Conquest of Two Worlds |
Hamilton |
1932 |
Ring Road A magnetically levitated train. |
Starman Jones |
Heinlein |
1953 |
Ring-Table A device that creates a 'group mind', a single mind, from the many gathered around it. |
The Universe Wreckers |
Hamilton |
1930 |
Ringworld A 50 foot thick ribbon of matter around a star, a million miles across and as long as Earth's orbital circumference. |
Ringworld |
Niven |
1970 |
RNA Shots An injection prepared from the tissues of a person with knowledge or experience that you need. |
A World Out of Time |
Niven |
1976 |
Roachster A genetically-engineered vehicle based on arthropod DNA; uses implanted control structures. |
Sparrowhawk |
Easton |
1990 |
Robant A robotic servant. |
The Impossible Planet |
Dick |
1953 |
Robant Bill Collector A robot designed to collect overdue bills, no matter what. |
Now Wait For Last Year |
Dick |
1966 |
Robass A robotic beast of burden. |
The Quest for Saint Aquin |
Boucher |
1951 |
Robobug A cyborg insect. |
The Golden City |
Twelve Hawks |
2009 |
Robocop A robotic police officer. |
Wanted in Surgery |
Ellison |
1957 |
Robodore A robot specialized for use as a stevedore, emptying the contents of ships in port. |
Robot Unwanted |
Keyes |
1952 |
Robofish (Mitsubishi Robot Turbot) A powerful, meter-long robotic fish used to take samples from liquid lakes on other worlds (like Titan). |
Slow Life |
Swanwick |
2002 |
Robomule The robotic equivalent of a mule. |
Bill the Galactic Hero |
Harrison |
1965 |
Robopark An automated parking garage. |
Methuselah's Children |
Heinlein |
1941 |
Roboscribe A robotic writer of hard-bitten detective yarns. |
End as a Robot |
Marsten |
1954 |
Robot A (usually human-shaped) artifact with the same kinds of abilities as a human - this is the first use of the word 'robot'. |
R.U.R. |
Capek |
1920 |
Robot Animals Artificial animals created using robotic elements. |
Reunion on Ganymede |
Simak |
1938 |
Robot Bar A combination bartender and bar; a robot capable of dispensing beverages. |
Bill the Galactic Hero |
Harrison |
1965 |
Robot Bartender An automated, mechanical bar tending robot. |
The Stars My Destination |
Bester |
1956 |
Robot Biomimicry Endowing robots with an organic-appearing fluidity, rather than mechanical motion. |
The War of the Worlds |
Wells |
1898 |
Robot Bird A small winged UAV that can mimic a bird in flight. |
Invader on My Back |
High |
1968 |
Robot Brother A roboticist brings home a robot brother for his natural son. |
Brother Robot |
Slesar |
1958 |
Robot Bus An autonomous vehicle to transport groups of people. |
The Little Things |
Kuttner |
1946 |
Robot Busboy A robotic device able to autonomously clear tables in a restaurant. |
Lies, Inc. |
Dick |
1964 |
Robot Cab Driver You think you have problems? Robots have the worst problems of anyone. |
A Present for Pat |
Dick |
1954 |
Robot Cat A biological feline with mechanical parts. |
The Cat and the King |
Jones |
1946 |
Robot Cells (Crystal-Shaped Modules) Minute dodecahedral units that could combine into different shapes to become full robots. |
Isaac Asimov's Odyssey : Robot City: Book1 |
Kube-McDowell |
1987 |
Robot Chef Creative, autonomous robotic cook. |
Robinc |
Boucher |
1943 |
Robot Comedian Joke-telling feature added to a standard butler robot. |
The Jester |
Tenn |
1951 |
Robot Conductor A robot that serves as the conductor on a bus. |
The Woman You Wanted |
Silverberg |
1958 |
Robot Control Board Control panel with small screens showing the point of view of different robots. |
The Robot Master |
Beckwith |
1929 |
Robot Cook A household robot that can cook meals. |
Helen O'Loy |
del Rey |
1938 |
Robot Cop A robotic police officer. |
Pacifist of Hell's Island |
Williams |
1943 |
Robot Crab An automated gardener. |
Neuromancer |
Gibson |
1984 |
Robot Detector A device that can sense robotics. |
Assignment in the Unknown |
Quattrocchi |
1951 |
Robot Doctor A mechanical physician. |
Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 |
Heller |
1930 |
Robot Dog A mechanical, robotic dog. |
The Iron World |
Kline |
1937 |
Robot Door Automated door has some decision-making capabilities, in addition to speech recognition capabilities. |
Colony |
Dick |
1953 |
Robot Earthworm Autonomous swarming robots the size of earthworms, with similar earth-digging capabilities. |
War With The Robots |
Harrison |
1962 |
Robot Emotions Devices or techniques that give rise to emotions in robots. |
Helen O'Loy |
del Rey |
1938 |
Robot Factory Representative An ambulatory agent of an automatic factory. |
Autofac |
Dick |
1955 |
Robot Farmer A humanoid robot used for agriculture. |
The Turning Wheel |
Dick |
1954 |
Robot Fish A mechanical fish. |
At Kokomo Joe's |
Stauffer |
1989 |
Robot Fish (Metal Fish) Fake flounders for sport fishermen on Martian canals. |
Atom Drive |
Fontenay |
1956 |
Robot Gardener An autonomous gardening robot, taking care of plants in parks or fields. |
War Veteran |
Dick |
1955 |
Robot Gas Station An entirely automated station for dispensing fuel to consumer vehicles. |
Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said |
Dick |
1974 |
Robot Guard Very early reference to a guard robot. |
The Turning Wheel |
Dick |
1954 |
Robot Gun An automated gun; typically used for sentry duty. |
Aliens |
Foster |
1986 |
Robot Handlers Small robots used in spacecraft for a variety of useful tasks. |
The Golden Globe |
Varley |
1998 |
Robot Interception Aerial Mines Loitering explosives overhead. |
The World Jones Made |
Dick |
1956 |
Robot Introspection A robotic brain grows and learns about itself. |
Unforeseen |
Graham |
1949 |
Robot Judge Artificially intelligent legal machine - robes and all. |
Robot Justice |
Harrison |
1959 |
Robot Lawn Mower An automated lawn mower. |
City |
Simak |
1944 |
Robot Librarian Filer A device that works as a librarian, automatically filing books in the stacks. |
The Robot Who Wanted to Know |
Harrison |
1962 |
Robot Manumission The freeing of a robotic being from a state of being owned property. |
Robot Unwanted |
Keyes |
1952 |
Robot Mice Tiny cleaning robots. |
The Martian Chronicles |
Bradbury |
1950 |
Robot Mother A self-replicating robot, which creates a series of helper bots that adapt to conditions as needed. |
The Mechanical Mice |
Hugi |
1941 |
Robot Music Music created and performed entirely by robots. |
The Robot God |
Cummings |
1941 |
Robot Observatory A fully automated astronomical observatory, placed on a planet (typically, one that does not support human life). |
Space Rating |
Berryman |
1939 |
Robot Pianist A robot learns the fine art of playing classical music on the piano. |
Virtuoso |
Goldstone |
1953 |
Robot Pope An artificially intelligent robotic cardinal ascends to the Throne of St. Peter. |
Good News From the Vatican |
Silverberg |
1971 |
Robot Probes (Arr-twos) Remote controlled robots that wander through a facility, bringing pictures and information to a central location. |
Oath of Fealty |
Niven (w/J. Pournelle) |
1981 |
Robot Prohibition Robots may not wander alone. |
Robbie (Strange Playfellow) |
Asimov |
1940 |
Robot Psyche Tester An automated psychiatric evaluation device. |
Colony |
Dick |
1953 |
Robot Ramp A special means of ingress and egress solely for use by mechanical help. |
Robot Unwanted |
Keyes |
1952 |
Robot Revolt Robots to throw off the yoke of Man? |
The Exile of Time |
Cummings |
1931 |
Robot Self-Assembly A robot separated into many pieces reassembles itself. |
Meccano |
Correa |
1968 |
Robot Situation Neurosis Robots go mad when given competing instructions. |
The Unreconstructed M |
Dick |
1957 |
Robot Skin Covering Realistic covering for the bodies of robots. |
Rex |
Vincent |
1934 |
Robot Snake A mechanical reptile, with no legs. |
Bait for the Tiger |
Chaytor |
1958 |
Robot Snake Spy A small robot in the shape of a snake, used for field work by spies. |
Mariposa |
Bear |
2009 |
Robot Spectra Analyzer Device used to find ones position in real space. |
The Repairman |
Harrison |
1959 |
Robot Spider (Handling Machine) Multipurpose device used almost as an extension of the Martian's own bodies. |
The War of the Worlds |
Wells |
1898 |
Robot Strike When robots refuse to work. |
Robots of the World! Arise! |
Wolf |
1952 |
Robot Suicide A robot decides to commit suicide, and sets up a mechanism to put his decision into effect. |
Adam Link's Vengeance |
Binder |
1940 |
Robot Surgeon An autonomous robotic surgeon. |
The Bicentennial Man |
Asimov |
1976 |
Robot Surgeon-Hand A skilled surgical robot that attaches at the end of the surgeon's arm. |
War Veteran |
Dick |
1955 |
Robot Surgery Robots operate an advance operating theater. |
Secret of the Buried City |
Fearn |
1939 |
Robot Taste Buds A sensor for robots that would allow it to taste foods like a human being. |
Robinc |
Boucher |
1943 |
Robot Taxi A taxicab with a robotic driver. |
Solar Lottery |
Dick |
1955 |
Robot Tennis Player A purely mechanical, autonomous foe on the court. |
Manners of the Age |
Fyfe |
1952 |
Robot Tracking Device Small UAV robot remotely operated by an artificially intelligent computer. |
Vulcan's Hammer |
Dick |
1960 |
Robot Trash Collectors Robots that drive and operate garbage trucks. |
The Velvet Glove |
Harrison |
1956 |
Robot Vending Machine Machinery displaces news boys selling papers on street corners. |
The Prince of Space |
Williamson |
1931 |
Robot Voice A voice box for a robot that is an analog of the human voice system. |
Catch That Rabbit |
Asimov |
1944 |
Robot Waiter Robotic restaurant servitor. |
Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 |
Heller |
1930 |
Robot Wheel An enormous vehicular robot in the shape of a gigantic wheel. |
The Metal Giants |
Hamilton |
1926 |
Robot With Human's Brain A very early example of encasing a human brain in a robotic body. |
Revenge of the Robot |
Kline |
1936 |
Robotaxi A fully automated, driverless taxi. |
Dugal Was A Spaceman |
Gibson |
1953 |
Robot-Boss A mechanical device that tells people what to do. |
Women's World |
Cooke |
1939 |
Robot-Control Wave Band Special command circuit for robots. |
Rex |
Vincent |
1934 |
Robot-Deranger A ray that discombobulates robots of all kinds. |
The Exile of Time |
Cummings |
1931 |
Robotess A female robot. |
R.U.R. |
Capek |
1920 |
Robotic Abattoir Robots with knives in a meat-packing plant. |
Freedom's Landing |
McCaffrey |
1996 |
Robotic Arm A specialized robotic reaching and grasping device. |
City |
Simak |
1944 |
Robotic Butterfly A tiny, electromechanical flying robot. |
I, Robot: The Movie |
Ellison |
1987 |
Robotic Chess Expert A robot that plays chess at a level that no human can match. |
Time Quarry |
Simak |
1950 |
Robotic Conductor A robot charged with conductor's duties aboard a bus or other public transportation. |
Paycheck |
Dick |
1953 |
Robotic Dishwasher A fully automated solution to the dishwashing problem. |
The Martian Chronicles |
Bradbury |
1950 |
Robotic Eel A five-foot long artificial eel, controlled by an operator. |
Re:Set |
Beetlestone |
2012 |
Robotic Hand A dexterous manipulator for robots. |
The Door Into Summer |
Heinlein |
1956 |
Robotic Horse - Faithful Cybernetic Companion A robot that is specifically designed to closely resemble a horse. |
The Warlock in Spite of Himself |
Stasheff |
1969 |
Robotic Law Tape Safety Valve A specific impulse that warns robots contemplating breaking the laws set forth for their behavior. |
Robot Unwanted |
Keyes |
1952 |
Robotic Microhands Mechanical replica of hands, that mimic the movements of actual human hands. |
Microhands (Микроруки) |
Zhitkov |
1931 |
Robotic Trash Can A sensor-equipped waste can capable of autonomous cleaning - and legal judgement. |
Robot Justice |
Harrison |
1959 |
Roboticist A person who creates or works with robots. |
Robot AL-76 Goes Astray |
Asimov |
1941 |
Roboticist A person who works on robots. |
Evidence |
Asimov |
1946 |
Robotics The engineering field encompassing the creation and maintenance of robots. |
Liar |
Asimov |
1941 |
Robotnik Automated Hotel A fully-automated hotel; no human interaction required. |
The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge |
Harrison |
1970 |
Robot-Referee An autonomous robot judge at athletic events. |
Jingle in the Jungle |
Giunta |
1957 |
Robots Build Robots Using robot labor exclusively to build more robots. |
Robbie (Strange Playfellow) |
Asimov |
1940 |
Robots Refuse To Serve Man When robots evolve their own perspectives, and ultimately refuse to act as servants to human beings. |
The Mentanicals |
Flagg |
1934 |
Robots Take Human Jobs Robots displace human beings in the workforce. |
The Threat of the Robot |
Keller |
1929 |
Robot-Surgeon A perfect robot for perfected human beings. |
Rex |
Vincent |
1934 |
Robutler A robotic butler. |
The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge |
Harrison |
1970 |
Rocket Cruiser A privately owned space ship. |
The Worlds of Tomorrow |
Wellman |
1940 |
Rocket Engine Moves Moon Using the propulsive mechanism of a space ship to move a small moon or asteroid. |
The Space Dwellers |
Gallun |
1929 |
Rocket Float A sea-going floating platform for rocket launches. |
Too Many Boards! |
Vincent |
1931 |
Rocket Gun In essence, a bazooka. |
Armageddon: 2419 A.D. |
Nowlan |
1928 |
Rocket Liner A rocket designed for point-to-point Earth journeys; it goes well into the stratosphere. |
Exiles of the Moon |
Schachner (w. AL Zagat) |
1931 |
Rocket Pine Genetically engineered trees for wood pulp. |
The Human Blend |
Foster |
2010 |
Rocket Pistol Using pistol rounds to maneuver in space. |
Buck Rogers, 2430 AD |
Nowlan (w/D. Calkins) |
1929 |
Rocket Racing Use of reaction mass vehicles for races held within the solar system. |
Habit |
del Rey |
1939 |
Rocket Side Tubes An early description of attitude jets, course correction by small emissions of gas. |
Evans of the Earth-Guard |
Hamilton |
1930 |
Rocket Tug The equivalent of a tug boat for space ships. |
Crystalized Thought |
Schachner |
1937 |
Rocket-Belt A single-user propulsion pack. |
The Worlds of Tomorrow |
Wellman |
1940 |
Rocketeer A person who pilots rockets. |
Sunward Flight |
Zagat |
1943 |
Rocketeering Racing around in rockets |
Ra For The Rajah |
Peterson |
1938 |
Rocket-Polo Polo played with rocket-powered craft. |
Ra For The Rajah |
Peterson |
1938 |
Rocket-Powered Space Flight A device that could power a man from the surface of the Earth to that of the Moon. |
A Voyage to the Moon |
de Bergerac |
1657 |
Rocketrix A female rocket pilot. |
Redemption Cairn |
Weinbaum |
1936 |
Rod In a fight, it is used in a manner similar to a sword and a flamethrower. |
Wolfling |
Dickson |
1969 |
Rod of Wrath A sword made of light. |
Gather, Darkness! |
Leiber |
1943 |
Rogue Planet A planet without a sun, it wanders through galactic space. |
Satan's World |
Anderson |
1967 |
Rogue World A celestial nomad, a planetary body that is not tied to a particular sun. |
Dying of the Light |
Martin |
1977 |
Rolem (Wrestling Robot) A robotic wrestling companion. |
This Immortal |
Zelazny |
1966 |
Roller Two passenger vehicle designed for off-road use on alien planets. |
Shadow World |
Simak |
1957 |
Rolling Road A set of fast-moving strips to move people over distances. |
The Roads Must Roll |
Heinlein |
1940 |
Rolov A specialized robot for the bedroom. |
Roll Out the Rolov! |
Anvil |
1953 |
Rom (Robot Operated Missiles) Intercontinental robotic weapons. |
Breakfast at Twilight |
Dick |
1954 |
Rooftop Windmill Renewable energy source for the home. |
A Journey In Other Worlds |
Astor IV |
1894 |
Rotated Solid Space Habitat A solid version of a artifact rotated to achieve artificial gravity. |
Iron |
Anderson |
1989 |
Rotating Hollow Planetoid Habitat An asteroid (or planetoid) hollowed out, spun for artificial gravity, used as a habitat. |
Electronic Siege |
Campbell |
1932 |
Rotating House A single family home built upon a central pivot; it can be turned at will. |
The Godmakers |
Herbert |
1972 |
Roujin Z-0001 Robotic Bed A fully automated hospital bed and transport robot. |
Roujin Z |
Otomo |
1991 |
Roving Bomb Special zero-gee guided bomb. |
Lost Rocket |
Wellman |
1941 |
Ro-Womb Device enfolds the patient during therapy. |
The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) |
Zelazny |
1966 |
Royalties For Machine Learning Subjects A payment to people who are used as subjects for imitation learning by robots. |
Q.U.R. |
Boucher |
1943 |
Rubber Hoof Silent running for robot horses. |
The Warlock in Spite of Himself |
Stasheff |
1969 |
Rubber Soled Feet Silent padding for clanky robots. |
The Robot Terror |
Huff |
1930 |
RUMOKO A project to create additional land surface by deliberate stimulation of undersea volcanoes. |
My Name is Legion |
Zelazny |
1976 |
Runcible A book made of smart paper; every page is a flexible LCD (liquid crystal display) screen. |
The Diamond Age |
Stephenson |
1995 |
Rust Ray Pistol Makes the hardest steel or iron crumbly. |
Gambler’s Asteroid |
Wellman |
1944 |