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

 

'Peacebots' Protest Robot Conflict Event

Peacebots organized by a professor and students in an introductory Computer Science class at Bryn Mawr protested "Robot Conflict," a Battlebots-style event organized by the Northeast Robotics Club (NERC).


(Peacebot: "Code for Peace")

NERC organizers proclaimed their intentions for the Robot Conflict event:

They're not just on television any more...come experience the TRUE POWER of Combat Robotics in person at The Franklin Institute Robot Conflict on Saturday, October 20, 2007.

Nearly 40 robots ranging in size from 12lb. Hobbyweights, to 30lb. Sportsman will be placed into a custom design arena where they will have 3 minutes to smash, toss, or cut their opponents to bits. Some of the 'bots will rely on their small but deadly power, while others use weapons to inflict maximum destructive damage on their opponent.

Following the event, students and others were invited to talk with the hobbyists and roboticists who competed in the event. The event draws many students from diverse backgrounds and encourages them to pursue careers in engineering and related disciplines.

However, Bryn Mawr computer science professor Doug Blank was hesitant. He took issue with the lack of gender diversity at the event, and invited his class to respond.

According to Bryn Mawr Now, an online publication hosted on the university website, Blank and his students used what appear to be off-the-shelf robots to carry signs with peaceful messages:

Code for Peace.

Make code not war.

Thou shalt not press others' kill switch.

Extendable arms are for hugging.

Blank isn't entirely comfortable with using violence as a pedagogical tool, either.

"Even though it's robots that are fighting and people aren't hurt, the violence is real in a way that a video game, for instance, is not. A lot of real damage is done to the robots."

"Robot parts were flying. The floor got all ripped up, and they had to keep sweeping it up because there were little bot bits all over the place."

I find myself hoping that the above quote was intended to be tongue-in-cheek; Blank also said that he just felt that there were better ways to interest young people in engineering.

I invite readers to name their favorite peaceful robot.

From Bryn Mawr via Robots.net.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/31/2007)

Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.

| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |

Would you like to contribute a story tip? It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add it here.

Comment/Join discussion ( 4 )

Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")

Robots Repair And Modify Themselves
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...' Harry Harrison, 1956.

Robot Janitors Get To Work
'A few mechanical cleaning devices crept here and there...'- Philip K. Dick, 1957.

Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves
This is nothing new for science fiction fans!

Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons
'That little robot rabbit knew what it was talking about...' - JW Groves, 1950.

 

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

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 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

Current News

China Steals Strato Airship Design From Google App Engine
'...war-balloons, or, as it would be more correct to call them, navigable aerostats.'

The First Space Warship For Space Force
'Each of the electrical ships carried about twenty men...'

Biohybrid Jellyfish Explore The Ocean
As predicted, and detailed, by science fiction writers!

Should AIs and AI Robots Demand Rights?
'This robot is a creature... It is a manlike being. Therefore, like any other talking, thinking man, he is entitled to a court trial!'

Robot Learns Human Tool Usage By Imitation Learning
'I got one of those new electronic cameras...'

Companion Caregiver ChatGPT Dolls
'Every Artificial Friend is unique, right?'

'Pregnancy Humanoids' From China Replace Moms
'A great many of these synthetic babies were made...'

Man Builds 200 Foot Basement Firing Range
'The basement was huge... carved deep into the rock.'

Russians Create Robot Tank Platoons
'The remotely-operated robot tank is an old idea...'

3D-Printed Exoskeleton Learns From Your Hand
'...small electric motors at the principal joints worked the prosthetic framework by means of steel cables...'

Smartwatch Powered By Slime Mold
'Living protoplasm incorporated into the Ampek F-a2 recording system...'

Unmanned Boats Attack At Sea
'The autofreighter smashed into the boat...'

Carpentopod Walking Table
'Twoflower's Luggage, which was currently ambling along on its little legs...'

Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAV Operations
'You've got an aggressive machine up in the air now.'

SpaceX Rocket Shuttle Point-To-Point On Earth
'He came to as the ship went into free flight, arching in a high parabola over the plains...'

Quaise Uses Beams Of Energy To Dig Geothermal Wells
'The peculiar quality of this light, which gave it its great preeminence over all other penetrating rays...'

More SF in the News Stories

More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.