Science fiction

First work on relevance to robotics was a novel by Mary Shelley, published in England in 1817. Titled Frankenstein, the story deals with the effort of a scientist, Dr. Frankenstein, to create a humanoid monster. The robot then proceeds to raise havoc in the local community.

A Czechoslovakian play by Karel Capek, called Rossum’s Universal Robot, gave rise to the term robot. The Czech word “robota” means servitude or forced worker. The story is about a brilliant scientist named Rossum and his son who developed a chemical substance similar to protoplasm with which they manufactured robot. Their plan is that robot serve mankind. Rossum continuous to improve it and finally develops a perfect being. The sour turn is when robot dislikes its subservient role and rebels against their master, and killing all humans.

Among science fiction writers, Isaac Asimov contributed a number of stories about robots and credited with coining the term “Robotics”.

Law of Robotics by Asimov,

1.       A robot may not injure human being or, through inaction, allow a human to be harmed.

2.       A robot must obey orders given by humans except when that conflicts with the first law.

A robot must protect its own existence unless that conflicts with the first or second laws.