Robot

A generally autonomous device generally humanoid in shape and capable of on-board analysis of its surroundings. Probably the most famous proponent of robots in science fiction was Isaac Asimov whose tales of robots in the forties and early fifties were instrumental in changing the focus of robot stories from robot-as-threat to a technological problem describing why a robot acted in the way it did under those circumstances. His Three Laws of Robotics are one of the more famous pronouncements in the science fiction world:

• The First Law states that a Robot must not harm a human being, or through inaction allow harm to come to a human being.
• The Second Law states that a Robot must obey the orders of a human unless suc an order would conflict with the First Law.
• The Third Law states that a Robot must protect its own existence unless such an action would conflict with the first two Laws.

See Also:

• Android
• Cyborg

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