Questions tagged [robots]
For questions about machines (esp. programmable machines) capable of carrying out complex tasks.
234
questions
4
votes
2answers
445 views
Writing a timeline for the robot apocalypse
Can anyone help with a robot apocalypse story?
Wall of text incoming…
I am planning to write a dark, slightly comical novel that chronicles the events of a robot apocalypse (mostly from the ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
What is the maximum power level for a car mounted RF jammer that can keep the robots at a distance, without cooking yourself?
Assuming present day earth.
Imagine someone with access to an exa-scale super computer creates an AI. That AI then becomes sentient and tries to take over the earth.
An exa-scale supercomputer ...
9
votes
10answers
1k views
Why would humans build / send sample humanoid robots on an alien planet before humans arriving themselves?
Humans can send rovers and machines on other planets to navigate or to establish bases before human occupation begins. These rovers and machines are non-humanoid and suited to their mission roles. ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
Could these organic golems exist?
The organic golem is an artificial bionic humanoid. It is made up mostly of organic materials, like flesh and bone
Its limbs have tendons, ligaments, and bones like that of a human, but without ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
How much precious metals and rare earth elements would be in a giant robot? [closed]
I was looking up the amount of precious metals like gold and silver and rare earth elements in a cell phone and was surprised to find out that an average iPhone contains 0.034 g of gold and 0.34 g of ...
3
votes
2answers
167 views
Anyone know some Artificial muscles?
For this question, I want to have robots/androids with artificial muscles for motion. I know that there is a kind of silicon-ethanol muscle that works by thermal energy (the electricity boils the ...
46
votes
28answers
7k views
Why would The Machines not hunt humanity?
The Slow War is almost over. The Machines appeared almost twenty years ago, and since then we've all but lost humanity without them firing a single shot. Instead they won through brute industrial ...
8
votes
7answers
1k views
How do I save my Global “Benevolent” Dictatorship from Pesky Superheroes?
So I'm a dictator of the world, who seized power after a global collapse and I maintain control of the world with my giant army of killer robots - tanks, planes, androids, and so on. Things have been ...
4
votes
2answers
217 views
Is it possible to have a mecha act as a walking particle accelerator?
I am thinking of writing a story that is a remake/homage of classic Super Robot anime like Mazinger Z. Part of my idea is to make the main "heroic" robot as "realistic" as possible....
1
vote
5answers
182 views
Dragons are supposed to have a “smart” breath weapon. How could that work?
So, I was just writing up the introduction for my races:
"Even with their innate fragility, bird people sport impressive talons
and wings that allow them to scale almost any obstacle. Thanks to
...
12
votes
13answers
4k views
Why would a flourishing city need so many outdated robots?
Near future, Boston, United States of America.
This city brands itself as the leader in both medicine and quantum computing. The city looks awfully youthful and energetic; after all, they cured old ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
What technology would a probe need in order to become a self-sustaining colony-constructor?
In a science fiction setting, in the not-too-distant future, people want to send robotic probes out into space - both to explore and to set up boostrap space colonies. They need to be designed to be ...
4
votes
7answers
163 views
How do android regulates heat without triggering IR scanner?
Imagine that a robot disguised as a child walks into an airport to board a plane. Because of the pandemic there are many IR scanners stationed at every entrances/exits within the premises.
This ...
-4
votes
3answers
190 views
Can quantum computer fixes the trolley problem?
Set in the immediate future.
Trolley problem happens when the decision we are making turns into a nightmare situation, we are forced into considering the lesser of the evils but should we justify how ...
4
votes
8answers
3k views
How can humanity survive the Shadow?
A lot of modern warfare is about having the right nuggets in the right place, and getting the information needed to ensure that. Well, that would be the case if it wasn't for the "You go to war ...
4
votes
7answers
782 views
Why would combat robots with DNA-based biocomputers tend to go berserk?
In my universe, there exist these canine robots called the Kynigóskylo-Types created to hunt and kill specific species of mutated animals. Kynigóskylos get controlled by DNA-powered bio-computers (...
2
votes
2answers
110 views
How would AI human detection differ in a synthetic landscape?
If AI based robots and humans were the only heat producing macro organisms how would the AI detect and thus humans avoid detection?
The only things humans do in this setting is be mass produced and ...
7
votes
8answers
1k views
“Magic” is done by swarms of microscopic robots. Why would dragons be better at using them? [closed]
So, what can I do to give dragons an advantage that will possibly shine through no matter what? Which part of them have I been neglecting while trying to figure out how they fly? Yes, their breath ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Each industry in a town (maybe a bigger area) controlled by a single robot and its team? [closed]
In the future, after some apocalyptic events and a lot of bad luck, humankind has risen thanks to robots. In the town where the story happens, each industry (paper-making industry, wood industry, etc) ...
-1
votes
1answer
107 views
Why would you have to kill a dragon to use their blood as a “magical” ingredient?
In my meta setting, dragons cast "magic" (read: nanomachines) through their breath. This magic can be anything from a healing spell to fire or a potent poison.
It just so happened that in ...
29
votes
9answers
4k views
Could someone be convinced they are a robot?
My story takes place in a near-future where robots have gotten so realistic it is impossible to tell them apart visually from humans. Hyperreal human robots are the latest fad, where the robot has its ...
0
votes
3answers
128 views
How can you avoid a world dictatorship, with machines as enforcers (police, military)?
I'm writing a story and I got a bit stuck. The world where the story takes place is at a point in its development where they no longer use humans as military personnel nor as police. When military or ...
3
votes
2answers
114 views
Effects of Tear Gas on Miniature Drones
In this setting, most if not everyone has one or more personal drones. Think robotic hummingbird: same mode of flight, same speed and maneuverability, but no lungs. Instead of internal organs, they ...
13
votes
11answers
3k views
Keeping the horde of nanomachines at bay?
So, there are three major powers in the setting that can be reasoned with, and a fourth that is just there to destroy. I have a problem with balancing them.
The so-called nature spirits are creatures ...
5
votes
0answers
116 views
How could a station on Cordelia be designed in order to extract helium-3 and deuterium from Uranus? [closed]
Some details:
At the end of the 21st century, the first expedition to Uranus launches to mine helium-3 and deuterium from its atmosphere. The plan involves a tether dangled into the upper atmosphere ...
2
votes
6answers
138 views
What essential operation had to be run on autopilot in a manned combat powered armour?
In the near future, the military deploys hundred of thousands of combat ready powered armours for peace keeping purpose around the world, they carry heavy weapons and an array of sophisticated sensors ...
-1
votes
1answer
75 views
Bipedal haptic robot warriors - can they stand up and walk?
Currently (2020) there are bipedal robots that can walk. However they contain a lot of expensive electronics in order to support their self-contained AI.
In crude (and heartless) terms, it's less ...
asked Jul 6 '20 at 18:14
chasly - supports Monica
46.3k12 gold badges138 silver badges288 bronze badges
0
votes
2answers
114 views
The Sparagmos is a WMD that uses nanites to eat other nanites. Would it be effective as described?
So, in this world, nanites can be best described as COVID-19 on steroids, though they can do other stuff, like disable bio-weapons and enhance crop yield. Some nanomachines can be designed to be as ...
-4
votes
1answer
92 views
How to induce Mandela effect to the entire nation that machines are uprising?
Set in the 18th century C.E. somewhere in Europe with population of slightly more than 2 million, they are just starting to light up the streets using electricity and for the first time they gets to ...
5
votes
4answers
374 views
What would a war robot actually look like? [closed]
As cool as giant robots are and humanoid robots are, they are not the most practical things.
I've seen things like human ships crewed by robots, but looking at this, i mean why? Why not make the whole ...
2
votes
3answers
158 views
Scientifically plausible non-WMD parasite/grey-goo clouds?
So, grey goo isn't exactly the most useful thing from a military standpoint, not just because of high-entropy and metastable materials that you can't get chemical energy out of, but also that:
Me: ...
2
votes
3answers
169 views
Artifacts to keep killer robots and only killer robots at bay?
So, I already have robots in my setting in the form of artifacts, from golems to the Antiochian Holy Hand Grenade. Artifacts, though exotic, are nothing more than advanced technology, so much so that ...
1
vote
5answers
199 views
How can the “Atheism Smash” disable divine magic in a given area?
So, saints. I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE THEM. They're the equivalent of a pay2winner or the GM's (Game Master) girl/boyfriend. They literally have Bruce Almighty backing them up! They don't earn any of their ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
How could the display technology of self-rewriting books work?
Oh yes, it's Artifact Time! with Best Dad and Ozen the Immovable!
If you watched Hairy Plotter and the Gas Chamber of Secrets, you probably remember the scene where the Horcrux of Adolf Hitler is ...
5
votes
4answers
762 views
Homing arrows, how can they work?
In paper, the reason why Joerg and various whacky bows and crossbows made a return and phased out guns in this setting is because of two factors:
Cheap homing arrows. Even anti-material rifles, like ...
3
votes
2answers
134 views
Would a collective mass of nanobots function properly as a single robot?
In my story, I want to explore a concept similar to Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator genisys, with a robot that is in fact composed of millions of nanobots, which thus grants it the ability ...
2
votes
4answers
270 views
Disney buys all the rights on sex bots [closed]
Year 2030, and sex bots have now been around since the early 2018 and existed as a concept for more than half a century.
But during the last years they became more and more common, they are not in ...
5
votes
1answer
188 views
Finding ways to robots feel pleasure
Given a world where a human-like brain is synthetizable, I wonder:
A human-like artificial brain would most likely crave sensorial overwhelm. Pleasure to humans is something deeply associated with ...
5
votes
1answer
101 views
How to keep internal organs functioning within an exoskeleton suit in different gravity levels?
This question answers the issue I was wondering about of how well an exoskeleton suit could help my characters move as normal in higher and lower gravity Could a robotic exoskeleton give humans Earth ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
How to prevent people from ever using the Founder Titan again without rendering it inoperable?
So, If you're familiar with the anime GATE (not to be confused with Stein's Gate) or A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, you probably know what's going on and why I have a boiling hatred ...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Mechanics and structure for an artificial giant creature?
I originally wanted to create giant land biological life-forms but the square cube law is limiting me to sauropod body sized creatures so another element of my story is artificially enhanced ...
-2
votes
1answer
136 views
Why do some demons need mirrors to manifest? [closed]
Mirrors are a particularly interesting part of magic. They're gateways for otherwordly entities, cause bad luck when broken, and most importantly...
There is a scientific explanation for all of that.
...
7
votes
5answers
206 views
Can clockwork robots have any sensory apparatus other than touch/contact/pressure? [duplicate]
Ignoring the constraints of mechanical computation, what sensory modes are even available to such a robot?
Even in the 21st century artificial odor detection is rather primitive, and we have over a ...
25
votes
14answers
9k views
Can programming “mutate”?
Can the programming of simple nanobots randomly change to create a similar effect as mutations in DNA?
This question has a very similar idea as I wanted, although in this case the nanobots are capable ...
6
votes
2answers
160 views
The curious case of tengu, the “geometric anomaly” of their human disguises and how they can overcome it
Tengu are humanoid creatures with many avian features, including wings and beaks. Now, this is a problem when it comes to disguises.
Disguises in this setting work by covering one's body in utility ...
6
votes
4answers
380 views
How can my Mage Light spell work?
While I'm working on the Magical Artillery, let's look at another common spell.
Mage Light is a very handy invention. When cast, the spell creates an orb, 13 cm in diameter. The orb radiates white ...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Interchangeable rooms
So, in the S.S Portland (The main setting of my story) there is a variety of rooms. A lounge, a lab, etc. so, i was thinking that at some point, the lounge would be changed out for a 0-g pool. A band ...
2
votes
4answers
132 views
Can a mind-reader “peer” into the databanks of a robot? [closed]
In my world, an alien species went to visit a medieval fantasy world with the intention of colonizing it. They sent out a scout robot that can look and act like a human. His mission is just to get ...
16
votes
14answers
5k views
What problems would arise for the human species making itself into robots
In modern day society, few or many people have been fascinated with integrating robotic parts to their bodies. But sometimes that idea is taken to the next step, in which people want to have their ...
4
votes
1answer
107 views
Growing organic tissue over a machine
In a short story I created, humanity encounters a sentient and consciousness messenger that is alien in nature and origin. Upon further examination, it turns out that there is organic tissue grown ...
