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Science Fiction in the News Articles
Related to material in Autofac
by Philip K. Dick

"Naturally, Man should want to stand on his own two feet ... but how can he when his own machines cut the ground out from under him?"

( Autofac by Philip K. Dick)

Science fiction in the News articles describe real-world events that relate to the ideas and inventions in sf novels and movies. Select a news article:

RepRap: Self-Replicating Rapid Prototyping
   A self-replicating, rapid prototyping machine developed at the University of Bath in England could transform the nature of manufacturing. People could produce everyday household objects in their own homes and put them together.

Self-Replicating Modular Robots
   Cornell scientists have been working on machines that replicate themselves. Their strategy is to use small modules that attach to each other with electromagnets.

Lower Limit For Nanobot Size Discovered
   Scientists and science fiction writers must accept new limits to imagination, thanks to a remarkable first-ever measurement.

Desktop Nanofactory Video
   Excellent visualization of how it might work; not really news, but worth watching.

Claytronics: Robot Swarm-Based 3D Shape-Shifting Objects
   This is pretty much a blue-sky project, but I did like the video; any help remembering the sf reference would be appreciated.

Autofac - Real-Life Nanoscale Assembly Line
   Remarkable experiment demonstrates that a nanoscale assembly line can actually work.

Cubelets - Buy A Robot Swarm For $300
   UPDATED with Terrahawks! Now here's a great toy from the future - and you can buy it in time for the holidays!

3D Nano Molecular Structures Can Be Built On A Surface
   Working nanotechnology gets a bit closer with this first time development.

Micro-Robots Self-Assemble From Tiny Particles
   'The bits were in motion.' Philip K. Dick

Self-Building, Self-Tooling, Autonomous Manufacturing
   'The machinery was building a miniature replica of the demolished factory.'- Philip K. Dick, 1953.

Self-Assembling Nanoparticles Move Like Tiny Gears
   'Microscopic machinery, smaller than ants, smaller than pins, working energetically...'- Philip K. Dick, 1955.

Small Molecule Walker Takes First Steps
   'The bits were in motion.'-- Philip K. Dick, 1955.

A 'Genuine Nanorobotic Production Factory'
   'Microscopic machinery, smaller than ants, smaller than pins, working energetically, purposefully - constructing something...' - Philip K Dick, 1955.

Embark Autonomous Trucks Still Need Humans
   '...it resembled conventional human-operated transportation vehicles, but with one exception -- there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

SRI MicroFactory Of Microrobots Recalls Dick's Autofac
   'Microscopic machinery, smaller than ants... constructing something...' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

DIY Autonomous Robot Detects Trash
   'The search-bug detached itself and rolled forward.' - Philip K. Dick

Volvo's Self-Driving Mining Trucks
   'A procession of automatic ore carts was racing over the bleak slag' - Philip K. Dick, 1955

Dockworkers Protest Driverless Trucks
   'It resembled conventional human-operated transportation vehicles, but with one exception -- there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

Microbot Interstellar von Neumann Explorers
   ‘ Maybe some of them are geared to escape velocity.’ - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

No Autonomous Trucks? Wait, What?
   '...it resembled conventional human-operated transportation vehicles, but with one exception -- there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

Microscopic Robots On The March!
   'Microscopic machinery, smaller than ants, smaller than pins, working energetically, purposefully...' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

Rivian Actually Making Electric Self-Driving Trucks
   '... there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K Dick, 1955.

Delivery Robots Being Bullied, Robbed
   'Robots have worse problems than anybody.' (A Present for Pat) - Philip K. Dick, 1955.

P1 Just The Latest Robot To Take A Beating From Humans
   '...we mere people come second.'

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