Robots that make you think

Joseph Basile, Burrillville RI — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:43:13 GMT

Hmmmm.... Spirit and Opportunity! Haha, that was easy.

Robots that make you think

Wayne, Alamogordo, NM — Tue, 15 May 2007 22:20:36 GMT

Since the word robot seems to be derived from the Czech word 'robota' which means "work", I think all the nominees are justified in one form or fashion in that they provide (provided) some form of called upon action or function, even if it was just for our entertainment. As far as a People's Choice, I'd like to see 'Robot' from the original Lost in Space series make the list.

I'm glad to see DARPA heavily involved in vehicle transportation robotics. Unfortunately, I don't see how we can ever develop and implement a usable nationwide robotic transportation system without the influence, and eventual control, of the current energy (oil) companies.

Robots that make you think

Patrick Coyle, Seale, AL — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:48:16 GMT

How can a robot hall of fame not have a robot from the company that has/will do the most robotic research about the rules of robotics, Asimov's US Robotics. I vote for R. Daniel, the robot detective.

Robots that make you think

Jason Isaacs, Oceanside, CA — Wed, 16 May 2007 01:21:52 GMT

Is Data a robot? I would think so.

My nomination for a fictional robot is my personal favorite, Bender, from the animated TV series 'Futurama'. He's self centered, immoral, alcoholic, foul-mouthed and completely funny - the exact opposite of Data.

Does anyone else remember the programmable robot toy from the late 70's or early 80's that was a six wheeled tank-like toy sized vehicle called Big Trak? It could be programmed to move forward, backward and turn and dump a trailer with a set of buttons on the top of the toy. For a long time that was my favorite robot.

Robots that make you think

guy — Wed, 16 May 2007 01:43:21 GMT

I agree with Joseph.

Robots that make you think

Jaime, Norman, Oklahoma — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:16:57 GMT

Wayne makes a good point here. Maybe private companies should strive to release robotic public transportation systems that run off of alternative energies. Even the continual development of personal vehicles with alternative means of propulsion would be a good way to fight the oil companies who will continue to squeeze as much cash out of us as they can before running out of fossil fuels. We can fight them with technology!

Robots that make you think

William Hays, Tustin, CA — Wed, 16 May 2007 06:16:44 GMT

The Robot Hall of Fame? A century from now, after the First Great Robot Uprising has wiped humanity from the face of the earth, we may laugh at the naivete of popular movie robots like Gort, the Terminator series, Artoo and, yes, that product of Gene Roddenberry's utopian vision, Lt. Commander Data.

   An android wanting to be human is rather like a Ferrari 599 Fiorano wanting to be a pogo stick.

   I'm not surprised that Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) found their relationship both inappropriate and regrettable.

    My vote goes to the Cylon played by Grace Park on "Battlestar Galactica."
However, if she's not eligible, then Optimus Prime.

Robots that make you think

Chuck, Livingston, TX — Wed, 16 May 2007 12:59:52 GMT

Over a decade ago a Bio-Engineering project at UC-Berkeley produced a full-sized, fully-articulated human torso from the hips to the feet. This robot was capable of fully duplicating the human walk. Today it is fitted with a giant chess-piece horse head and hauls a taxi cart around the campus. This mechanical object may not be much in the philosophical department but certainly needs mention in the world of robotics.

Robots that make you think

Ethan, Voronezh, Russian Federation — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:40:30 GMT

I'm not sure that the word 'robota' is derived from Czech, seeing as that same word/verb also means "to work" in Russian, Ukranian, and other Eastern Eurpoean languages.

Robots that make you think

ryan, phoenix — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:31:38 GMT

Isn't this the difference between artificial life and artificial intelligence? I'm a student at UAT in Arizona and I'm considering changing majors to the artificial life program.

Robots that make you think

Darrell Gardenhire, Odessa,Texas — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:34:21 GMT

What about No. 5 from the movie Short Circuit?

Robots that make you think

OneVoice — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:38:52 GMT

I think all of the inductees this year are great. I'd also like to see Tweeky & Dr. Theopolis from the Buck Rogers in the 25th century series make it in.

Robots that make you think

Frank, Dallas, TX — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:06:46 GMT

There should be two lists - one for fictional robots and one for real ones. To have them all on one list cheapens both.

Asking whether Data is a robot or an android is like asking whether the Enterprise is a starship or a spaceship - it doesn't matter because the point of Data was for television viewers to explore the meaning of humanity.

And HAL 9000 wasn't a robot at all - it was a computer.

Robots that make you think

Red Pill Junkie — Wed, 16 May 2007 23:35:43 GMT

The "squiddy" search & destroy centinels from "The Matrix" movie!

Robots that make you think

Jon,Ygn., OH — Thu, 17 May 2007 16:28:56 GMT

Robots are the future of space exploration. This is because we can send them to places no human can ever go. Oh, and they cost much less than sending humans.

Robots that make you think

Joseph Basile, Burrillville RI — Sat, 19 May 2007 15:05:44 GMT

Jon, Robots are important for space travel, but by god they are boring compared to sending real people! I feel that the sense of adventure will soon overwhelm our fear of sending humans on space missions and we ourselves will go. Where else will we go? I hope we don't intend to overcrowd the Earth for centuries and wait for our extinction. Theres only one direction left for us to migrate.... up!

Robots that make you think

Jon, Ygn., OH — Mon, 21 May 2007 03:59:31 GMT

Joseph,

Would you say that the Mars rovers, (still working)are boring? What about Voyager,MRO etc.?

I have never found thse missions boring. Also, we get lot's more data back per Dollar spent. At present there is no real need to send humans into space. They are simply too costly. And this cost will not be coming down any time soon, despite what some space cadet's would have you believe.

So, for decades to come, it's our robots that will explore space. And the humans will stay home.

Robots that make you think

Marty Haynes, Alamogordo, New Mexico — Wed, 23 May 2007 19:24:11 GMT

Seems a little obvious to me that the "Lost in Space" tv series robot, B9, should be in the front of the pack along with the Mars rover Sojourner. Maybe there should be categories for working robots and literary creations?

Robots that make you think

vikas,indore,madhya pradesh — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:18:08 GMT

i want some information on making simple remotes controlled robots. information like-

1.parts/material required
2.how we assemble it
3.budget,size,weight etc

Robots that make you think

Joseph Basile, Burrillville, RI — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:29:58 GMT

Jon, I know im a bit late chronologically, but...

Notice the very first comment on this story? Yea that was me. Spirit and Opportunity are AMAZING machines conceived by brilliant minds. But it would sadden me to think that they were not the precursors to manned missions.

There's 35.7 billion free acres of land on Mars. And thats just one small planet! There's so much out there to explore, and I for one would rather experience it first hand - or at least know that someone else is - rather than though television and computer screens.

Robots that make you think

Jon, Ygn., OH — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:48:10 GMT

Joseph,

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Yes Joe, I understand the desire in most humans to go, to be there. But we must also face the reality of the situation.

Our technology is not ready to send humans to other worlds. It is simply not robust or reliable enough to take the chance.

There are many hurdles to overcome first. Along with a few problems that might not be possible to solve.

First the problem of zero-g. Exposure to the weightless conditions of space are very un-healthy over the long term. There are some who say, oh no problem, will spin the spacecraft and create gravity. The problem with this is, nobody really knows how to do such a thing. The forces might tear a spacecraft apart. Or how do you stay on course while tumbling end over end?

Second, and this could be the showstopper. The radiation in deep space could be very dangerous to the crew. And I don't just mean solar radiation. I mean the background radiation coming from deep space from elsewhere in are galaxy. This is know as High-Z particle radiation. Little is know about this form of radiation. It is unlike anything found on Earth. Few studies have been done, however there is reason to believe it's effects will be harmful. And not just by causing cancer, which is a long term worry. But serious damage to the human nervous system.

Now some might say. Oh just add shielding to the ship. Problem is it would make the ship too heavy, and cost would rise. And as for the idea of generating a magnetic field around the spacecraft. It is science-fiction. Nobody has any idea how to do such a thing.

So you see Joe, that is why I feel it will be a very long time, if ever before humans go to these other worlds.

Which is fine with me. I've been there in a virtual sense.

Best regards, Jon

Robots that make you think

JC, Riverton — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:35:26 GMT

Jon,

By steering the ship along the axis of its spin and designing it as a hoop rather than a dumbell, you eliminate the tumbling issue. In fact, the spin imparts stability, much like a properly thrown football.

Secondly, it may soon be possible for spacecraft to generate a plasma bubble with which to deflect radiation, creating a virtually weightless sheild.

I do believe robots and transhumans are the real future of space exploration, but it may become necessary for humanity to colonize Mars as an eggs-in-two-baskets insurance policy. So any advances in manned spaceflight should be encouraged.

Robots that make you think

SeanX — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:39:15 GMT

Hey, ya better include ( sorry kitt)
The KNIGHT AUTOMATED ROVING ROBOT....!