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Robots categorized as: Fiction

1982

KITT

Categories: Fiction, Film – Tags: , , , , ,

Essentially an advanced supercomputer on wheels, KITT (known also as Knight Industries Two Thousand/Knight Industries Three Thousand) is the short name of a fictional character on the adventure TV series Knight Rider. KITT is an artificial intelligence electronic computer installed in a highly advanced, very mobile, robot in the form of a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

KITT has special features such as Turbo Boost, which allows quick bursts of speed or jumping over obstacles, the ability to drive himself, a front mounted scan bar that, among other things, allowed KITT to “see,” “molecular bonded shell” coated body panel armor coating which resisted conventional weapon fire as well as most artillery and explosive blasts although a strong direct hit could cause severe damage. A refit in the 1985 season included the addition of “Super Pursuit Mode” and a convertible top. The car’s voice was supplied by actor William Daniels. [Wikipedia]

1951

Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still)

Categories: Fiction, Film – Tags: , ,

An alien (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) land their spacecraft on Cold War-era Earth just after the end of World War II. They bring an important message to the planet that Klaatu wishes to tell to representatives of all nations. However, communication turns out to be difficult, so, after learning something about the natives, Klaatu decides on an alternative approach. In the end Klaatu warns that if the people of Earth threaten to extend their violence into space, then the robots will destroy Earth, adding that “The decision rests with you.” He then enters the spaceship and departs.

1918

Frankenstein

Categories: Fiction, Film, Literature – Tags: , , ,

Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley when she was 19. Frankenstein remains the classic reference point in automation, and builds upon the now classic mythology of the automaton turning on its master.
The title of the novel refers to a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who learns how to create life and creates a being in the likeness of man, but larger than average and more powerful.
The story has had an influence across literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories and films. It is often considered the first fully realized science fiction novel due to its pointed, if gruesome; focus on playing God by creating life from dead flesh. [Wikipedia]

1921

R.U.R. – Rossum’s Universal Robots

Categories: Fiction, Literature – Tags: , ,

In 1921 Karel Čapek coined the word robot in his science fiction play called R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). The word “robot” comes from the word robota meaning literally serf labor, and, figuratively, “drudgery” or “hard work” in Czech, Slovak and Polish.

The Robots described in the play are not robots in the modern sense. Rossum’s robots are biological creations engineered in the same fashion as Frankenstein’s creature as described by Mary Shelley. Čapek’s Robots are biological machines, but they are still assembled, as opposed to grown or born.

In the play the robots can think for themselves and perform manual labor. Although they seem happy to work for humans, that changes and leads to the end of the human race due to a hostile robot rebellion.

In 1921 Karel Čapek coined the word robot in his science fiction play called R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). The word “robot” comes from the word robota meaning literally serf labor, and, figuratively, “drudgery” or “hard work” in Czech, Slovak and Polish.

The Robots described in the play are not robots in the modern sense. Rossum’s robots are biological creations engineered in the same fashion as Frankenstein’s creature as described by Mary Shelley. Čapek’s Robots are biological machines, but they are still assembled, as opposed to grown or born.

In the play the robots can think for themselves and perform manual labor. Although they seem happy to work for humans, that changes and leads to the end of the human race due to a hostile robot rebellion.

1999

All is full of love

Categories: Art, Fiction, Film – Tags: ,

Artist and director Chris Cunningham made this beautiful video in 1999. The video shows an intimate scene where the two robot versions of Björk kiss and touch passionately while what looks to be maintenance work is being done in their backs. The video has won several awards and has also been shown in art galleries around the world.

2008

WALL-E

Categories: Fiction, Film, Science – Tags: , ,

WALL-E is a 2008 computer-animated science fiction film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Andrew Stanton. It follows the story of a robot named WALL-E who is designed to clean up a waste-covered Earth far in the future. He eventually falls in love with another robot named EVE, and follows her into outer space on an adventure that changes the destiny of both his kind and humanity. (Wikipedia)

1984

Optimus Prime

Categories: Fiction, Transportation – Tags: , , ,

Optimus Prime is a character in the Transformers universe. He is the leader of the Autobots, a faction of heroic Transformers from the planet Cybertron who wage their battles against the evil forces of his brother’s group the Decepticons for control of their homeworld, and by extension, peace in the universe. Optimus Prime is depicted as a heroic, brave and compassionate character who puts all his talent to use to improve the world around him. Optimus has a strong sense of justice and righteousness, and has dedicated himself to the protection of all life, particularly the inhabitants of Earth; he will battle his foes with unyielding resolve. (Wikipedia)

1987

RoboCop

Categories: Fiction, Film, Military – Tag:

RoboCop is a 1987 cyberpunk themed film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centers on a police officer who is brutally murdered and subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as “RoboCop”. RoboCop explores larger themes regarding the media, gentrification and human nature in addition to being a action film. It has spawned merchandise, two sequels, four television series, video games and two comic book adaptations. The film is set in a dystopian near future in Detroit, Michigan. Violent crime is out of control, and the city is in financial ruin. The city government contracts the megacorporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP) to fund and operate the Detroit Police Department, in effect privatizing it. OCP is not interested in rebuilding “Old Detroit” but rather replacing it with a modern utopia called “Delta City”. Before construction can begin, however, OCP needs to end crime in the city, but knows it can’t rely on an already undermanned police department. (Wikipedia)

1950

Speedy

Categories: Fiction, Film, Literature – Tag:

In 2015, Powell, Donovan and Robot SPD-13 (aka “Speedy”) are sent to Mercury to restart operations at a mining station which was abandoned ten years before. They discover that the photo-cell banks that provide life support to the base are short on selenium and will soon fail. The nearest selenium pool is seventeen miles away, and since Speedy can withstand Mercury’s high temperatures, Donovan sends him to get it. Powell and Donovan become worried when they realize that Speedy has not returned after five hours. They use a more primitive robot to retrieve Speedy and try to analyze what happened to it. When they eventually find Speedy, they discover he is running in a huge circle around a selenium pool. (Wikipedia)

2001

Teddy

Categories: Fiction, Toy – Tag:

There are oodles of humanoid robots (”mecha” in the film’s lingo) inhabiting the Stanley Kubrick-Steven Spielberg mashup AI: Artificial Intelligence, but the anthropomorphic Teddy the Supertoy is clearly the bot to beat. A walking, talking teddy bear, Teddy bonds to his family almost as strongly as Haley Joel Osment’s David, but without the massive creepiness factor that makes us want to keep David at arm’s length. List candidate Gigolo Joe (Jude Law) is flashier and more philosophical, but ultimately just another Hollywood Hooker With a Heart of Gold. (Possibly literally.) Teddy may be a toy, but he can reason, engage in conversation, play games, and even stage a rescue attempt should he see that a friend is in danger. And worst-case scenario, he’ll quietly keep you company at the bottom of the ocean for 2000 years. You think Gigolo Joe would ever shut up about women and mecha-human relations during all that time? We think not. (premiere.com)

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