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"I've come across more and more people who've actually tried reading science fiction and can't make it make sense."
- Samuel R. Delany

Recon Spiders  
  Tiny spider-sized robots that are able to search buildings and identify occupants.  

When searching for the renegade John Anderton, two officers search a flophouse. A thermal scan reveals 28 warm bodies.

What's the best way to quickly search a building full of people who might fight back or have weapons or might try to hide?


(Minority Report spider robot swarm)

"I confirm 28 warm bodies... What do you think - four spiders, one per floor?"

"Let's do eight - I gotta eat!"

Technovelgy from Minority Report (Movie), by Steven Spielberg.
Published by Dreamworks in 2002
Additional resources -

The spider robots are stored in each officer's belt with their legs retracted; the officers throw them across the floor.


(Minority Report spider robot)

Most of the occupants of the building have been through this before, and submit to the robot spiders as they climb onto their faces to scan their eyes.


(Minority Report spider robot)

The above picture shows the scanning process from John Anderton's point of view.

Compare to the metallic spider from The War of the Worlds (1898) by H.G. Wells, the scarab robot from The Scarab (1936) by Raymond Z. Gallun, the spider robot from The Mystery of Element 117 (1949) by Milton K. Smith, the mechanical hound from Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury, the metal insects from The Invincible (1954) by Stanislaw Lem, the Sheem spider robot from The Witches of Karres (1966) by James Schmitz, the spider tripod from Rendezvous With Rama (1972) by Arthur C. Clarke, the spider cable device from The Web Between the Worlds (1979) by Charles Sheffield and the spider robotic insects from Runaway (1985) by Michael Crichton.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Minority Report (Movie)
  More Ideas and Technology by Steven Spielberg
  Tech news articles related to Minority Report (Movie)
  Tech news articles related to works by Steven Spielberg

Recon Spiders-related news articles:
  - MAST Spider Robots Like Minority Report
  - The STAR Robot - From Minority Report?
  - Gestures Control Spider Robot Army
  - CRAM Cockroach Robots Flatten On Demand

Articles related to Robotics
Robots Repair And Modify Themselves
Robot Janitors Get To Work
Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves
Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons

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