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 went [to the top of] Vehicle Assembly Building and looked down, and tears burst from my eyes. The size of this cathedral where the Rockets take off to go to the moon is so amazing."
- Ray Bradbury
 |
| Autonomous Lifeboat | ||
| A water-going craft whose AI is devoted to the safety of its passengers. |
The boat communicates with passengers using telepathy (esp).
| “I am Lifeboat 324-A,” the boat esped again. “My primary purpose is to preserve those within me from peril, and to maintain them in good health. At present, I am only partially activated.”
“Could anything be safer?” Joe cried. “This is no senseless hunk of metal. This boat will look after you. This boat cares! ...“She must control telepathically,” Gregor said hopefully. In a stern voice he said, “Go ahead slowly.” The little boat forged ahead. “Now right a little.” The boat responded perfectly to Gregor’s clear, although unnautical command. The partners exchanged smiles. “Straighten out,” Gregor said, “and full speed ahead!” |
| Technovelgy from The Lifeboat Mutiny,
by Robert Sheckley. Published by Galaxy Science Fiction in 1955 Additional resources -
|
Unfortunately, this particular craft was a used model, and Lifeboat 324-A was severely delusional from previous traumas:
“Gives you quite a feeling of confidence, doesn’t it?” Arnold said.
“I suppose so,” Gregor said. “But. where is Drome?”
“Gentlemen,” the lifeboat continued, “try to think of me, not as an unfeeling mechanism, but as your friend and comrade-in-arms. I understand how you feel. You have seen your ship go down, cruelly riddled by the implacable H’gen. You have—”
“What ship?” Gregor asked. “What’s it talking about?...”
“All right, that’s enough,” Gregor was sick of arguing with a verbose and egoistic machine. “Go directly to that island. That’s an order.”
“I cannot obey that order,” the boat said. “You are unbalanced from your harrowing escape from death — ”
Arnold reached for the cutout switch, and withdrew his hand with a howl of pain.
“Come to your senses, gentlemen,” the boat said sternly. “Only the decommissioning officer is empowered to turn me off. For your own safety, I must warn you not to touch any of my controls.
Thanks to SFFaudio for pointing this item out.
"I am Lifeboat 324-A,” the boat stated telepathically. “I am now fully activated, and able to protect my occupants from danger. Have faith in me. My action-response tapes, both psychological and physical, have been prepared by the best scientific minds in all Drome.”
('The Lifeboat Mutiny' (1955) by Robert Sheckley)
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Lifeboat Mutiny
More Ideas
and Technology by Robert Sheckley
Tech news articles related to The Lifeboat Mutiny
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Sheckley
| 3D Printing A 12-Meter Boat Hull |
| China Still Working On Rescue Robot That Eats People |
| Can One Robot Do Many Tasks? |
| Roborock Saros Z70 Is A Robot Vacuum With An Arm |
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
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
'He wore spectacles with thick wavy lenses. The spectacles were intended to make him not only half blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.'
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
