Robots. You Know I Love ‘Em

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about robots. Maybe it’s seeing Terminator Salvation a couple weeks ago, or maybe it’s the way my vacuum cleaner seems to have a mind of its own. Or maybe it’s just some minor outrage at Roomba being inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Roomba’s great. I’d like to have a Roomba that would do the dishes or clean the toilets, too. I just think that, as a robot, it’s about as sophisticated as those ChuggaChuggaTootTootDingDingChooChoo that went in a straight line until it bumped a wall and then it backed up and turned in a new direction. CCTTDDCC also played jaunty tunes while it bumped around.

Of course, I shouldn’t be too upset. This is the same group that inducted the Terminator T800, R2D2 and Data (Star Trek)—fictional robots—into its hallowed (?) halls, alongside the Mars Rovers and the DaVinci robot.


Surprisingly enough, some really practical robots have been overlooked, maybe because they are doing menial tasks,like preparing food, like this pancake-making robot. Or this sushi-making robot.

I’m both intrigued and repulsed by the human hand attachment.

And strangely attracted…