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"the [science fiction] writer should be able to convince the reader (and himself) that the wonders he is describing really can come true...and that gets tricky when you take a good, hard look at the world around you."
- Frederik Pohl
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| Cutteray | ||
| A laser used in a range of tools - including mining equipment. |
The planet Dune presented a very harsh environment to its human inhabitants. The most sensible way to live was to burrow underground in solid rock. What sort of mining equipment would be needed to cut rooms in rock efficiently?
| He found himself in the assembly hall through which he and his men had been led by Tuek's aides. It was a long, fairly narrow area chewed out of the native rock, its smooth surface betraying the use of cutteray burners for the job. The ceiling stretched away high enough to continue the natural supporting curve of the rock and to permit internal air-convection currents. Weapons racks and lockers lined the walls. |
| Technovelgy from Dune,
by Frank Herbert. Published by Putnam in 1965 Additional resources -
|
These tools were also used by the Fremen once they were able to work within the system to get the tools of the Imperium to do their work in transforming Dune:
Read more about the future of mining equipment, including software simulations and tele-remote operated underground machinery.
See also the slaver disintegrator, a rather effective technology used in "digging tools" in the novel Ringworld, by Larry Niven.
Station tools began finding their way into the sietch warrens -- especially cutterays which were used to dig underground catchbasins and hidden windtraps.
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Additional
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Tech news articles related to Dune
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Cutteray-related
news articles:
- Microwave Drill Heats And Pokes
| DARPA Wants 'Large Bio-Mechanical Space Structures' |
| Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer? |
| Organic Non-Planar 3D Printing |
| Laser-Beam Welding In Orbital Factories |
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'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
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'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...'
'Jason had been guiding the caravan of cars as usual...'
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...'
