Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"I am not a speed reader. I am a speed understander."
- Isaac Asimov
 |
| Robus | ||
| A robotic bus. |
Polite and soft-spoken, this automated transport shows more humility than many other robots.
| A wheeled machine of some kind was rolling toward them over a smooth surface of polished stone...
The machine was obviously a transport. Rolling on its eight wheels, it swept swiftly nearer, and Dekkin saw that it was large enough to hold all of his men... The machine, starlight-trapped and mellowed in the dull sheen of its metal, stopped directly in front of them. A door on its side opened, folded down. As it touched the platform, its metal shivered and then, incredibly, it began to melt. It twisted, still fluidly changing shape, and became a set of impossibly proportioned steps. There was a click, and soft lighting flooded its interior. Dekkin stepped forward hesitantly. "I beg your pardon.” The voice was soft, mellow, and it spoke perfect Deelin in a perfect accent... "It was I who spoke. I am a robus. My apologies. It took me a few moments to perform the required analysis and alter my circuits accordingly.” Dekkin stared at the machine’ his mouth suddenly dry. The steps had re-aligned themselves, and the shape of the doorway had altered. The interior lighting had changed to a more pleasant shade. "Please accept my services,” the robus said. |
| Technovelgy from Terror in the Stars,
by John A. Sentry. Published by Fantastic Universe in 1955 Additional resources -
|
It turns out that the robus is just for transport.
"Yes.”
"And you are not unusual. Am I correct? Your duties are to welcome visitors. But there are other machines, with other duties, and with just as many talents as you possess?”
"Far greater talents,” the robus said. "I am only a single-purpose mechanism.”
Compare to the automatobus from Sally (1953) by Isaac Asimov, the autobus from Tidal Moon (1938) by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum and the robotic conductor from Philip K. Dick's 1953 short story Paycheck.
He scrutinized the machine more intently. "The Ras built and taught you?” he asked.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Terror in the Stars
More Ideas
and Technology by John A. Sentry
Tech news articles related to Terror in the Stars
Tech news articles related to works by John A. Sentry
| Robots Repair And Modify Themselves |
| Robot Janitors Get To Work |
| Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves |
| Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...small electric motors at the principal joints worked the prosthetic framework by means of steel cables...'
'Living protoplasm incorporated into the Ampek F-a2 recording system...'
'Twoflower's Luggage, which was currently ambling along on its little legs...'
'He came to as the ship went into free flight, arching in a high parabola over the plains...'
'The peculiar quality of this light, which gave it its great preeminence over all other penetrating rays...'
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...'
‘Where to, sport?’ the starter at cab relay asked.
