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"Science fiction represents the modern heresy and the cutting edge of speculative imagination as it grapples with Mysterious Time---linear or non-linear time."
- Frank Herbert
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| Three Laws of Robotics (Rules of Robotics) | ||
| The original formulation of Asimov's laws of robotics. |
In the story, a robot is seen to be acting peculiarly in a very dangerous place - the surface of Mercury.
| Powell's radio voice was tense in Donovan's ear: "Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics - the three rules that are built most deeply into a robot's positronic brain." In the darkness, his gloved fingers ticked off each point.
"We have: One, a robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm." "Right!" "Two," continued Powell, "a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law." "Right!" "And three, a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws." |
| Technovelgy from Runaround,
by Isaac Asimov. Published by Street and Smith in 1942 Additional resources -
|
The explanation for the robot's odd behavior is found in the conflicts between the orders it has been given, and the laws that govern its behavior.
"The conflict between the various rules is ironed out by the different positronic potentials in the brain. We'll say that a robot is walking into danger and knows it. The automatic potential that Rule 3 sets up turns him back. But suppose you order him to walk into that danger. In that case, Rule 2 sets up a counterpotential higher than the previous one and the robot follows orders at the risk of existence..."
So with this robot, Rule 2 drives him forward and Rule 3 drives him back; the robot stays on the locus of points of potential equilibrium. In other words, it gives you the runaround.
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Additional
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More Ideas
and Technology from Runaround
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and Technology by Isaac Asimov
Tech news articles related to Runaround
Tech news articles related to works by Isaac Asimov
Three Laws of Robotics (Rules of Robotics)-related
news articles:
- Laws Of Robotics Rewritten for Health Care
- Video! Chess Robot Breaks Opponent's Finger In Match
- Shanghai Guidelines For Humanoid Robots
| PaXini Supersensitive Robot Fingers |
| Artificial Skin For Robots Is Coming Right Along |
| Robot Guard Dog On Duty |
| Wearable Artificial Fabric Muscles |
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Science Fiction
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'There was a wall ahead... It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
'...support the interior human structure against Jupiter’s pull.'
'Anything larger than a BB shot it picked up and placed in a tray...'
'The German chemists have discovered how to supply the needed elements in compact, undiluted form...'
'Compounds devised by the biochemists for the rapid building of bone...'
'The car faltered as the external command came to brake...'
'It is about the size and shape of a kitchen stool, gyro-stabilized...'
