Home | Glossary | Timeline | New

Science Fiction in the News Articles
Related to material in Catch That Rabbit
by Isaac Asimov

"When a machine breaks down and stops, an expert can usually fix it. But their problem was a robot that went crazy — became homicidal — only when there were no homos to cide!"

('Catch that Rabbit' by Isaac Asimov)

Enjoyable WWII-era robot story by Asimov; it contains a very early reference to the idea of less capable robots working under the direction of a "boss" robot. Two men are given the disagreeable task of checking up on robots perfectly capable of autonomous work. Odd things happen; what's the explanation?

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:

Robotic Safety Barrels: Smart Traffic Cones
   Robotic Safety Barrels (RSBs) developed by Shane Farritor may be the kind of smart traffic cones that can save many lives and $100 billion per year in losses due to accidents and delays on U.S. highways.

Multi-Robot Pursuit System: We'll Be Back!
   I'm sure that everything will go fine with this project, which could have useful applications in search and rescue, fire fighting and for all I know, the food service industry.

NASA's Multi-Robot Planetary Exploration
   Science fiction writers caught on to this almost seventy years ago; I'm glad it's finally being addressed formally by NASA.

Robots In The Mines
   Dangerous professions can be made safer with robots.

Synchronizing Humanoid Robot Swarms
   'They wheeled and turned in macabre simultaneity...'

NASA's Robotic Mining Competition
   ''Dave,'[Powell] said. 'You're a stable, rock-bottom mining robot...'- Isaac Asimov, 1944.

VelociRoACH Insect Robots Cooperate
   'They wheeled and turned in macabre simultaneity...'- Isaac Asimov, 1944.

Robots Learn To Swarm Safely
   'They were bronzy gleams of smooth motion...' - Isaac Asimov, 1944.

X2-VelociRoACH Cooperates To Launch Tiny Drones
   Little robots cooperating can do big tasks. Eventually.

LoadRunner Robot Works Alone, Or In A Group
   'They marched in unison, seven of them...' - Isaac Asimov, 1944.

CADRE Robots To Work In Teams On Other Planets
   'You're a stable, rock-bottom mining robot, except that you're equipped to handle six subsidiaries in direct coordination...' - Isaac Asimov, 1944.

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

Science Fiction
in the News

More SF in the News