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Robot Hall of Fame 2004 Inductees Announced

generic-man writes "According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Carnegie Mellon University has announced this year's inductees for the Robot Hall of Fame. On October 11, the Hall welcomes Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet, Astroboy, C3PO, Honda's ASIMO, and a 'pioneering mobile robot called Shakey.' They join R2D2. the Mars Pathfinder rover, and other robots from the class of 2003."

131 comments

  1. Robot Hall of Fame? by Wig · · Score: 0, Troll

    Gimme a break, what's next, "Worst Television Sitcoms with Underage Teenagers Hall of Fame!"

  2. I for one.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    welcome our new robot overlords.

    1. Re:I for one.. by wahsapa · · Score: 0

      imagine a beowolf cluster of these

    2. Re:I for one.. by sxtxixtxcxh · · Score: 0

      in soviet russia, robot overlords welcome YOU

      --
      for a minute there, i lost myself...
  3. When's Data getting in? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It would be illogical to exclude him.

    1. Re:When's Data getting in? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Lt. Cmdr Data deserves this. It is an OUTRAGE to see him excluded from this prestigious list!

    2. Re:When's Data getting in? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Data is an android, not a robot.
      Remember the episode where he corrects Q?

    3. Re:When's Data getting in? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And C3PO is in. What's your point?

  4. Bender by Mac-O-War · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bender belongs on that list

    1. Re:Bender by Alkaiser · · Score: 1

      And you KNOW Richard Nixon's head on the robot body is storming in right behind him.

      --
      Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
    2. Re:Bender by McAddress · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Beagle 2 anyone?

  5. Re:Terminator by mark-t · · Score: 3, Informative
    Feh!

    Get it right!

    The T-101 was a _CYBORG_, a cybernetic organism... not a robot!

  6. I dunno about 3PO... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    After some of those stupid jokes he was telling in Attack of the Clones, I'm surprised anyone would vote him into the Hall of Fame. At point point in AotC, his head is dangling from his body as R2 drags his torso along the ground. 3PO cries "I'm beside myself!" Get it? Isn't he clever? 3PO was always a pathetic droid but he really sunk to a new low in AotC. Keep him out of the Hall of Fame, please.

    1. Re:I dunno about 3PO... by wahsapa · · Score: 0

      really that's lucas' fault for having such a big head, star wars is horrible now

    2. Re:I dunno about 3PO... by kfg · · Score: 1

      Alas, poor Yorick. I knew me well.

      KFG

  7. I nominate by Unnngh! · · Score: 5, Funny

    I, for one, nominate Darl McBride, everyone's favorite FUD-slinging robot! The openserver platform he's running on seems a bit buggy however--some of the outputs make no sense...

    1. Re:I nominate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I nominate Tom Brokaw!

  8. Robby the Robot by joNDoty · · Score: 4, Funny

    Man, my dad just burnt me a copy of forbidden planet. After seeing it for the first time recently, I gotta agree that Robby should make this hall of fame. The robot produced, what, 60 gallons of alcohol for that alcoholic crew member? What loyalty! And the way the robot made those giant sheets of lead wobble as if they were only styrofoam set props. Brilliant.

    1. Re:Robby the Robot by Smallpond · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hey its "The Tempest" with a few changes. Shakespeare would have loved Leslie Nielsen.

      Morpheus, a remake is approaching from the South
      Monsters! Monsters from the studio!
      My poor Krell. Countless centuries of civilization ruined by J Lo and Ben Affleck.

    2. Re:Robby the Robot by marcello_dl · · Score: 1

      Hehe I cannot suppress a laugh myself, at the first appearance of Robbie, for the funny way it walks (and i pity the guy who had to walk around with that costume, it must have had some weight). But Robbie is my fave robot of all times. First of all, it is well programmed, never hurts a human throughout the film and keeps behaving like a tool without magically acquire emotions or a personality during the movie (HAL, are you listening... er... reading my lips?). He's never hacked (receives a bypass code from Altaira and accepts it, not bad for a 50 years old movie), his only failure (i can't say more without spoiling the movie) is due to the specifications it was built with. Also it has a great look (blue neon-like lights which are so fashionable today and the teletype clicks) and a fine sense of humour. To altaira who says "Robbie, i need a new dress, right away!" he replies "Again?!?". BTW: you cannot talk about science fiction without having seen this movie.

      --
      ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
    3. Re:Robby the Robot by Politicus · · Score: 1

      Robby may be famous but in as much as he contributed to expanding the possibilities of robots in sci-fi, he's completely useless. I nominate the robot from woman from Lang's Metropolis movie made in 1927. The transition from human to robot would still have made the cut in Hollywood sci-fi movies until the late 60's.

      --
      Politicus
  9. Re:Michael outdoes himself! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how is this a troll? Pointing out dupe articles is a troll?

  10. Give it a few years by Timesprout · · Score: 2, Funny

    And the robots will be voting for the Humanoid Hall of Fame

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  11. Hmmm... by xenostar · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't see Cher on there.

    1. Re:Hmmm... by wahsapa · · Score: 0

      shes not a full on robot, more like a cyborg, however that hall of fame doesnt open until 2008

  12. Mod parent downRe:Michael outdoes himself! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Come on guys , this is not a dupe check out the link (Its circularly linked to the same article)

    1. Re:Mod parent downRe:Michael outdoes himself! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      maybe you are the own who has been duped!

      mod you down, maybe, my frienD?

  13. Re:Michael outdoes himself! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    no, linking to the very story you are now reading is a troll.

  14. COG by afidel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I was very suprised that COG was not on either list. COG is doing more for the real advancement of robotics then any of those "celebrity" robots ever will. I mean why should we transfer the cult of personality from hollywood to the realm of robotics?

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    1. Re:COG by dalangalma · · Score: 1

      And why do you know COG? Probably because you've seen it on TV. COG is as much a "celebrity" robot as R2D2, and has done about as much to advance the field of robotics. Unless you're counting people inspired to work on robotics, in which case R2D2 probably has the upper hand.

      I really don't understand this "Robot Hall of Fame". Is it for science fiction stuff, real robotics, what? It really just seems like a waste of time to amuse children and ignorant adults.

    2. Re:COG by afidel · · Score: 1

      Nope, I visited the media lab on a campus tour back when I was visiting schools to apply to. Got in but couldn't afford the ~40K/year tuition+room&board. My parent's house cost $42K for god's sake! I ended up going to RIT which was less than half the cost =)

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    3. Re:COG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Crackhead mod's I'll see you in metamod! How can the first post to mention COG be redundant!

  15. The World's Greatest Robot by 14erCleaner · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd like to nominate Mr. Coffee, possibly the world's most important robot. Millions of people couldn't get out of bed in the morning if their coffeemaker weren't up before them, getting the morning brew ready.

    --
    Have you read my blog lately?
    1. Re:The World's Greatest Robot by ejaw5 · · Score: 1

      I hope this Mr. Coffee you speak of, dispenses coffee from a sealed container into the brewing chamber and not rely on the user to put coffee grinds it the night before. I'm sure you lose quite a bit of coffee flavor and aroma in the latter case.

      --

      $cat /dev/random > Sig
  16. Re:Michael outdoes himself! by Murf_E · · Score: 1

    you could mod this funny I guess

    --
    this sig intentionally left blank
  17. must... nominate... by Tar-Palantir · · Score: 4, Funny

    Marvin, the Paranoid Android.

    Brain the size of the universe and I can't even get nominated. Life, don't talk to me about life.

    1. Re:must... nominate... by ianmorris · · Score: 1

      his brain is only the size of a planet

      --
      i am the self-proclaimed king of free stuff

  18. My nominations . . . by harley_frog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo from Mystery Science Theater 3000. Let's face it, not everyone (robots included) can sit through ten years of the cheesiest movies ever made without getting some kind of award.

    --
    It's all fun and games until someone loses the key to the handcuffs.
    1. Re:My nominations . . . by Mahonrimoriancumer · · Score: 1

      I agree, is there a write in ballot for mistakes like this?

      --
      So climate's changing. So what? It has always changed. The big news would be if it wasn't changing. - Dr. Philip Stone
  19. AlGore by raider_red · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think we need to admit the AlGore robot to the hall of fame. Not only was he a revolution in cybernetics, but he was almost elected president.

    --
    It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
    1. Re:AlGore by kfg · · Score: 1

      Not only was he a revolution in cybernetics. . .

      Resulting in his invention of the AlGore-Rhythm, the patterned, recurring alternations of contrasting elements of political speech when running for office.

      "Left! Left! Left, right, left! Left! Left! Left, right, left! There I was just campaigning down the street. . ."

      KFG

    2. Re:AlGore by MBCook · · Score: 1
      Let's not forget that he invented the internet.

      Also, and possibly more importantly, as the VP he lead his team of Vice Presidential Action Rangers to protect the space time continum (it's in the constitution).

      All hail AlGoreBot

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  20. 2 Words by loteck · · Score: 1
    1. Re:2 Words by strictnein · · Score: 1

      Agent Smith was a computer program/process/thread/virus/malware/adware/spywar e/whatever, not a robot

  21. Re:Terminator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The 800 series was the cyborg.
    The 100 series was the endoskeleton.
    The 800 series is built on top of the 100 series.
    YOU have failed it.

  22. Marvin by iMaple · · Score: 1

    What about Marvin ?? He should be on it. He always reminds me of so many people I actually know

  23. Its happening already! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In soviet russia, the robots vote for you!

    *posts just to see if random slashdot jokes will get modded up regardless*

  24. Danger, Danger! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No 'Robot' from Lost in Space? (I can't remember his model number.)

    Also:

    whatserface from Metropolis
    Huey, Dewey & Louie from Silent Running
    the Kung Fu robots from Ice Pirates ("I can't figure out this one's program.")
    the friendly denizens of Westworld

    Lots of others deserving to be included!

    I didn't see any of these mentioned from the 2003 list, and I couldn't find the 'total' list, if there is one. Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?

    1. Re:Danger, Danger! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was Robbie the Robot

    2. Re:Danger, Danger! by kevn · · Score: 1

      Robbie the robot and the "Robot" from Lost in Space are the same robot (or robot suite). kvn ps. get it right you tin plated ninny!

    3. Re:Danger, Danger! by decipher_saint · · Score: 1

      The robot's name on Lost in Space was "ROBOT". The robot in Metropolis is referred to as "False Maria" (though I have also heard the term "robotrix" bandied about).

      My nominee for robot would be Maximillian from "The Black Hole" that guy scared me when I was a kid...

      --
      crazy dynamite monkey
    4. Re:Danger, Danger! by VikingBerserker · · Score: 1

      Robbie the robot and the "Robot" from Lost in Space are the same robot (or robot suite). kvn ps. get it right you tin plated ninny!

      That's a pretty good Dr. Smith impression, particularly the way that it's inaccurate. Observe:

      Robby

      Lost in Space's B-9 robot

    5. Re:Danger, Danger! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 1

      No, Robbie the Robot and 'Robot' from Lost in Space were _not_ the same robot. Robbie has the dome head, and Robot had the oblate spheroid head. There was even a Lost in Space episode that had both (with Robbie playing an alien-made robot that acted very superior to Robot).

      _DEFINITELY_ not the same robot.

      My favourite Robbie the Robot moment was from 'Mork & Mindy.' When Robbie called a woman fat, he was told to go apologize to her, only to get, "I'm sorry you're fat." heh

    6. Re:Danger, Danger! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 1

      Sorry, wrong answer. You will now be bumped down to a 7-digit slashdot userid. Thanks for playing. :)

    7. Re:Danger, Danger! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 1

      Ohhh yeah, Maximillian was scary as hell! Good nomination...

      I think that movie would've gotten a lot more respect if the 'good' robots hadn't been so cutesy. Same problem that Return of the Jedi had with the Ewoks. In both cases, they cute ones were actually very effective, but _geez_.

    8. Re:Danger, Danger! by jwgoerlich · · Score: 1

      No 'Robot' from Lost in Space? (I can't remember his model number.)

      The ship's robot was a model B9, class M3 robot (from The Ghost Planet and The Colonists episodes, respectively).

      J Wolfgang Goerlich

    9. Re:Danger, Danger! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 1

      Ahh, right, the good ole model B9. Those older B8's always were a bit twitchy...

  25. Re:Michael outdoes himself! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    haha wtf, dude u linked to the same story. heh, no doubt someone fell for it anyways

  26. I, not a Robot by arth1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Robby would be nice, yes.

    But what surprises me is how they could elect Asimo without also electing R. Daneel Olivaw! Without R. Daneel, there wouldn't have been an Asimo. Well, at least not under that name.

    Regards,
    --
    *Art

  27. Preston...my dog. by JimmytheGeek · · Score: 1

    "Daddy created him for good, but he turned out EVIL!"

    Wallace & Grommit, "Close Shave"

  28. ironic that there's ASIMO.. by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ..but nothing from asimoV..

    especially when asimov's robots had much more depth than starwars robots could ever aspire to have.. even if he made them act by pre-set logical rules(which was the whole point anyways).

    I mean, christ, even terminator is more robot(_machine_) like than r2d2 or c3p0 are, r2d2 and c3p0 could be a midget and a butler without any difference in their actions(of course, the midget would have to be a slicer as well..).

    in fiction making a character into a robot is most just to justify the character for being very shallow(and geek 'sexy') and to have special powers.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:ironic that there's ASIMO.. by ari_j · · Score: 1

      Another reason for making a character into a robot is because robots can get away with things on TV that humans doing would be censored. Futurama's Bender is a great example of this - he smokes, binge-drinks, pick-pockets frequently, and says things that a human character could never get away with on TV.

      Like the 5th-season episode title says, "Bender should not be allowed on TV", but he is.

    2. Re:ironic that there's ASIMO.. by ajs · · Score: 1

      R2D2 and C3P0 are not shallow characters at all. They're the only characters in the movies that we get any real sense have feelings about the events surrounding them that go deeper than the waistline. R2, clearly in control of more events than he lets on, is constantly thinking ahead and taking giant causes on his shoulders in order to protect the ones he cares about. He evolves, but slightly, though the course of the chronology of the series. His actions in the first three movies, like Yoda's, show a certain age. No more flying around metal-shops, he's instead carrying plans, but he's still playfull... knowing full well who Yoda is, he has fun poking at the old master in Empire. R2 enjoys his role as much as he considers it important.

      What I find fascinating about R2 is that he manages to convey his character deeply and meaningfully without every uttering a word.

      3P0 on the other hand puts up a fastideous and shallow front, but time and again we see him chip away at that front and expose the compasionnate friend that he can be. He complains about everything, but when R2 or Luke need him, he's always there and always charging into danger along-side his human counterparts.

      This pair is going to play a huge role in the third movie, and I suspect people's opinions of them and droids in general will change after that movie.

      Did you think Lucas had just accidentally wrote the Obi Wan line about how different everything would be if droids could act on their own initiative (when we clearly know that they can)? Did you think that it was just a shallow plot device that no one living on the planet-sized computer of Corsucant knew how you could possibly DELETE any information (and yet it happened)?

      To mis-quote Lynch... the droids are not what they seem....

    3. Re:ironic that there's ASIMO.. by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      they are shallow characters that could easily have been a midget and a butler still, what you make of them is another matter though.

      and yeah I dare to say that star wars aren't that well planned series of films, they're a shallow fairytale with some action and magic(not just high tech magic, but regular magic to boot!) slapped on far far away. the relevant pieces(emotionally and plotwise) in ep1 and 2 could be condensed easily into 10 mins per film.

      anyways you're quite obviously quite a starwars buff since you can tell what people think in the future about happenings in a film in a series where in the 2 previous films the 2 characters have been just comical act(I mean gripes, look at attack of the clones factory scene, if that didn't make you lose hope for the episode 3 then you have to be quite deep into 'it'). I mean, to save it episode 3 doesn't only have to be a good movie, it must be fucking excellent to make up for ep 1 and 2.

      They're not that bad _entertainment_ but masterpieces they aren't! Zahns books are pretty good though but as far as lucas is concerned they don't exist at all, unfortunately.

      if a puppet that doesn't do anything else than beep or do anything really major apart from acting as a postman and a door-opener is the 'deepest' character I think it tells a sad story about the plot and the actors.

      What's most relevant to the hall of fame though is the fact that r2d2's and c3p0's important traits as characters DON'T COME FROM BEING ROBOTS AT ALL!

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    4. Re:ironic that there's ASIMO.. by ajs · · Score: 1

      they are shallow characters that could easily have been a midget and a butler

      I think that summs up the problem with your viewpoint. You seem to think that a midget and a butler would not be interesting characters, but as I look back on the development of what started as an obvious nod to Laurel and Hardy, and have since become not just likable characters, but characters with enough depth to continue to be interesting 6 movies later... well, I don't care if they're a Bavarian sword-juggler and a bar-hopper. They're still good characters.

      Watching 3P0 try to appear disinterested in human machinations and then demand that Chewbaca turn him around so he can see what's going on, for example. R2's plaintive whistle when Luke is lost (the single most emotion-packed whistle I've ever heard in a movie). And as you get to know them, you realize that the bickering between these two droids is much like the sorts of arguments that a married couple have after decades together... not bitter or cruel, just reflections of their personalities.

      Man, if you didn't get a chance to enjoy these two characters, I really feel for you. They're some of the best character development in that series!

  29. And Gypsy and Cambot! by burgburgburg · · Score: 1
    It took all four of them to make sure that the Satellite of Love kept running and the experiments were properly recorded.

    And there were two different humans involved, but who cares about them?

  30. "Almost?" by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 0
    I think we need to admit the AlGore robot to the hall of fame. Not only was he a revolution in cybernetics, but he was almost elected president.
    "Almost?" Au contrare.
    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
    1. Re:"Almost?" by raider_red · · Score: 2, Informative

      He lost the election that actually matters. Namely, in the electoral college.

      --
      It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
    2. Re:"Almost?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OH HOHOHO, AREN'T YOU CLEVER??!!!notsomanycapsnotsomanycapsonotnotnotnot somanymanymanycaps

    3. Re:"Almost?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure the Democrats are going to lose this election as well - they're still too busy grousing about 2000 and haven't gotten on with their lives yet.

    4. Re:"Almost?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, almost. The writings of a bitter partisan don't change anything.

      Gore lost, Bush won. Get over it.

      (And the way Kerry's spinning his wheels, get used to it)

    5. Re:"Almost?" by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1

      Didn't click the link, did you?

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    6. Re:"Almost?" by ch-chuck · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      From the article linked:

      If you commit a felony in Florida, you lose your right to vote there, and you're "scrubbed" from the rolls. You become a non-citizen, like in the old Soviet Union. This is not the case in most other states; it's an uncivilized vestige of the Deep South.

      It's curious that another state, New York suffers from the same "uncivilized vestige of the Deep South".

      Who is "Greg Plast" and why should we listen to him? A simple search turns up this page which lists all the US states, and if anyone takes the time to read it instead of hammering out more communists bulletins for their leftist anti-US readers, they will see that almost all US states take away felons voting rights while in prison or on parole.

      Florida/Old South/Soviet Union ??? This guy is hogwash.

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    7. Re:"Almost?" by Politicus · · Score: 1
      almost all US states take away felons voting rights while in prison or on parole.
      In Florida, the problem was not so much that felons were purged from the rolls but that purging was encouraged without verifying people's actual identity. This resulted in a purge count much higher than actual felons to the benefit of the GOP.

      The other issue of course is that while you lose your right to vote while serving a sentence, you should regain that right when your sentence expires otherwise, you are serving an eternal sentence with respect to your rights. That is the case in Florida and as I understand it, very few states actually do this.

      Finally, the election was decided by the supreme court of the United States since the Florida recount was stopped prior to the date that Florida had to turn in their electoral votes. The narrow writing of the decision (that it only applies to Fla for example), pretty much gives away the partisanship behind it.

      If Diebold only had their shit together back in 2000, then none of these uncomfortable facts would be out there.

      --
      Politicus
    8. Re:"Almost?" by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1
      His name is Palast. Greg Palast. He's an investigative reporter with the BBC and the Guardian newspaper in London.

      Taking away felons' voting rights is one thing. Keeping it away after the sentance is up is quite another. Taking away people's voting rights because they have the same birthday or a similar name to the ex felon is quite another again. Taking away someone's right to vote on the basis that they committed a misdemeanor (like jaywalking or littering) as opposed to a felony in another state (which just happens to be Texas) is quite another again. You're not allowed to do this in Florida, but Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris' cronies did it anyway.

      RTFA. Just because your so-called 'liberal media' didn't bother their heads reporting this coup d'etat doesn't mean to say that it's all baloney. This stuff is all common knowledge in Europe.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    9. Re:"Almost?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even if they remove your name from the rolls, you can still vote.

      But you must request a special ballot at the polling place, which is then placed in a sealed envelope while they check, etc., etc. So probably only a very few people do this.

      This is part of why it's better to just ask for an absentee ballot and dodge the whole mess.

    10. Re:"Almost?" by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1

      No you can't. Florida was full of people who turned up to vote only to be told for the first time that they had been scrubbed. They were prevented from voting. Period.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    11. Re:"Almost?" by raider_red · · Score: 1

      No, I just think the study's biased.

      --
      It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
    12. Re:"Almost?" by ch-chuck · · Score: 1

      Finally, the election was decided by the supreme court of the United States since the Florida recount was stopped prior to the date that Florida had to turn in their electoral votes.

      You guys are really grasping at straws to validate your twisted view: The Supreme Court 'decided' nothing except time's up, and that was MONTHS after the ballots had been counted, and counted over, and over and over again. Every time Bush came up with more votes, some democrat would file another suit to consider such insanities like 'dimpeled chad' and smell the ballot and devine what the voter intended to punch. If anybody can be accused of trying to steal an election it should be the democrats for their "keep REcounting until Gore wins" tactic, while changing the criteria for what constitutes a "Gore" vote every time, "Darn, Bush won again. Well, we want a recount, except this time look for all the ballots that were all democrat except for the president, that clearly means they really intended to vote for Gore but pushed the wrong button, yeah, that's it".

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    13. Re:"Almost?" by ch-chuck · · Score: 1

      Gah, he's a media wag pandering to a certain mindset constituency for fame & fortune, investigating truth has nothing to do with it. As I pointed out - read my F'ing post - what he wrote about Fl. being the only state that that takes away felons voting rights due to some 'old deep south' (thereby implying vestiges of confederate racist you see) is plain WRONG WRONG WRONG. Check the link I posted that lists every states laws and check the facts. Do you own research. Simply quoting some journalist who just bangs out what you want to hear proves nothing.

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    14. Re:"Almost?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      This stuff is all common knowledge in Europe.
      You're suggesting that the U.S. of A. take guidance from Europe???? You have to be kidding me. After watching the way they have played with each other for the past couple centuries, I'm glad we have three thousand miles of water keeping us apart. Hell, in the last century alone we've had to come over there a couple times just to kick some bullies' collective butts to bail out the pansies that couldn't fend for themselves. Get real.
  31. I have an idea for the HOF... by GPLDAN · · Score: 1

    I think Billy Mumy should be the curator. I mean, really, what else is he doing?

    1. Re:I have an idea for the HOF... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I think Billy Mumy should be the curator. I mean, really, what else is he doing?
      Waiting for a Babylon 5 revival?
    2. Re:I have an idea for the HOF... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Singing "Fishheads" in concert.

  32. I've always wanted... by CommieLib · · Score: 4, Funny

    To invent a robot dog and name it Dogmatic.

    --
    If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
    1. Re:I've always wanted... by kfg · · Score: 1

      Of course he has to repeat the experiment:

      "Do you know how fast you were going?"

      "Yes officer. 64.93534572099238 miles/hour. I'm a very good driver, but can you tell me how to get to Fort Smith from here? I seem to be lost."

      (Cue Arkansas Traveller on the fiddle)

      "Well, can I take this road to Fort Smith?"

      "I'll tell ya, I been standing here all day and don't see no point and ain't seen it move, so I knows it's there already."

      (Cue fiddle again)

      Entangle your partner!

      KFG

  33. hey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    the Hall welcomes Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet, Astroboy, C3PO, Honda's ASIMO, and a 'pioneering mobile robot called Shakey.' They join R2D2. the Mars Pathfinder rover, and other robots from the class of 2003."
    That's practically all the succesful robots ever made. This sounds easier to get into than Arizona State
  34. Shakey, a Boy's Best Friend by Embedded+Geek · · Score: 1
    This was one of the first real robots I remember reading about (c. 1975). I wanted to build one for myself, but a nine year old's allowance couldn't handle it.

    Shakey was the size of small refrigerator, wheeled and (in retrospect) ugly as hell. I always thought it looked like it was going to topple over. But a robot that's smart enough to manipulate its environment (move a wooden ramp into position so it could roll up a step and continue on the task you asked it to do in the first place) - ground breaking.

    You can find more about shakey here.

    (Yes, I did have a sad, lonely childhood. How did you guess? :)

    --

    "Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."

    1. Re:Shakey, a Boy's Best Friend by bandy · · Score: 1

      You can see Shakey at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA.

      --
      "You might as well get your son a ticket to hell as give him a five string banjo." -unknown minister
    2. Re:Shakey, a Boy's Best Friend by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shakey rocked (literally)! My best friend's dad worked at SRI and did some work on Shakey. He was a pyschologist.

  35. Not sure if he was a robot... by weeboo0104 · · Score: 1

    What about Muffit from Battlestar Gallactica?
    Wasn't he like a robotic Ewok?

    --
    It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
  36. Sci-Fi by arth1 · · Score: 1

    In addition to Asimov and (at least) R. Daneel Olivaw, let's not forget the other grand master, dirty old Heinlein.

    If they can vote in HAL 9000, which is a computer and not a robot, well, then Mycroft definitely deserves a place on that list.

    1. Re:Sci-Fi by ari_j · · Score: 1

      I think HAL 9000 qualifies as the brains of a robot, since HAL had control of the entire ship, which could be considered its body. But HAL 9000 by itself was definitely a computer.

  37. They forgot K-9 by earthforce_1 · · Score: 1

    Dr. Who's faithful robot companion.

    --
    My rights don't need management.
    1. Re:They forgot K-9 by ParrotDroppings · · Score: 1

      AND .... the Daleks !!!

      --
      Free ?! Does that mean I can't get a Discount ?!
      This message was /.'ed
  38. Re:fuck aE cum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Modders parent is slightly offtopic and just might be a troll , try out the link and decide

  39. This is an insult! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where is Homer Simpson's robot?! Or Awesomo-4000!

    1. Re:This is an insult! by keefey · · Score: 1

      Is that the one with the tennis-racket arms? That was bloody funny, that was.

  40. While we're at it by westies-from-hell · · Score: 1

    Should not we also nominate Commander Data?
    It would be the human thing to do.

    --
    "Just because you're a genius doesn't make you a smart guy!" -- Narrator, Powerpuff Girls
  41. Dubya? by mcguyver · · Score: 1

    Can I nominate president Bush into the robot hall of fame?

  42. Where's the Awesom-O 4000? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Laaaaaammmme!!!

  43. Once Again... by Cylix · · Score: 1

    Once again they have forgotten the almighty pimpbot.

    "The man, the myth, the pimp. This is the PimpBot 5000. He combines the classic sensibilities of a 1950's robot with the dynamic flare of a 1970's street pimp."

    I can't believe he won't be included.

    More pimpbot info at http://www.pages.drexel.edu/undergrad/st95wf3z/pim pbot.html

    --
    "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
  44. google-bot by sxtxixtxcxh · · Score: 0

    whether or not in meatspace, googlebot pwnz.

    google should get a toaster and load up all the googlebots on that so's to be eligible for the hall of fame.

    "so... what does it do?"
    "crawls through cyberspace, archiving, cataloging, cross referencing and generally pwning all... AND makes toast."

    --
    for a minute there, i lost myself...
  45. But be careful.... by One+Louder · · Score: 2, Funny

    If your name is Sarah Connor, it is highly recommended that you *not* visit this museum.

  46. Robotica by Audacious · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Robby the Robot not only showed up in Forbidden Planet but he also put in an appearance in several other films and TV Shows. He showed up in "Lost in Space" (TV), and "Back to the Future" (Movie - in the museum).

    The other robot from "Lost in Space" (TV) should also go into the museum.

    Androids should probably get their own museum as they are a bit different from plain robots. My favorite to go into an Android museum would be BladeRunner's Roy.

    There have been so many robots used (both good and badly designed) in movies - it is probably really hard to decide just whom should go into the hall of fame.

    Vega from StarTrek-the Movie would be another good one. Only, they would have to build an entire planet to accommodate it. :-)

    --
    Someone put a black hole in my pocket and now I'm broke. :-)
    1. Re:Robotica by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually it was "Vejur" not "Vega".

  47. Missing inductee by mwigmani · · Score: 2, Funny

    Linguo got the shaft again.

    Homer: [gasps] Linguo -- dead?
    Linguo: Linguo is dead.
  48. Re:Terminator by CaptainMunchies · · Score: 1

    Cyborg perhaps, but just barely. The only part of him that was organic was a thin layer of skin plus a face. Everything important with the T-101 was mechanical.

    --
    Spam removed for the Internet's pleasure ...
  49. Bannou bunka neko musume... by MsGeek · · Score: 1

    ...Nuku Nuku.She's got the brain of a cat, the behavior of a genki little High School girl, and she kicks all manner of ass. I'm sure she's a bit low on their priority list but she deserves a spot in the Robot Hall Of Fame.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
    1. Re:Bannou bunka neko musume... by SoulSkorpion · · Score: 1

      Or Maj. Motoko Kusanagi, or "Battle Angel" Alita, or Chi, or the EVA series (heh, kinda), or that twisted little robot from Tenchi Muyo GXP, or the chick from Metropolis, or...

      Anime isn't exactly short on robots.

    2. Re:Bannou bunka neko musume... by MsGeek · · Score: 1

      Oh definitely...you brought up a lot of good Anime robots.

      --
      Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  50. Hey... by 3)+profit!!! · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    They forgot megaman!

  51. Re:Fitter Happier Fred by keefey · · Score: 1

    Radiohead does Stephen Hawking. Robotic in a way, but not quite.

  52. Wicucucucucucucu.... by keefey · · Score: 1

    How could they possibly forget The Transformers??! They should immediately throw out the entire list and populate it with the likes of Optimus Prime (now you don't get many people changing their names to R2D2 now, do you?), Bumblebee and Megatron! (The title is a badly formed attempt at making the noise when they transform)

    However, they have to leave just one gap for No-No from Ulysses 31. And that other robot that was at the end of Battle of the Planets (the UK version).

  53. Wait a minute.. by 0utRun · · Score: 0, Redundant

    ... where's Al Gore ?

  54. The obvious winners next year.... by MtViewGuy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ....The Mars Exploration Rovers named Spirit and Opportunity that have tremendously expanded our knowledge of the Martian soil since their missions began at the beginning of 2004. The spectacular pictures from two MER's have opened up the very distinct possibility that life once existed on Mars extensively, and some primitive forms of life may still exist there even now.

  55. Shakey by Animats · · Score: 1
    Shakey is actually at the Silicon Valley Computer Museum. Shakey was one of the first mobile robots, yet turned out to be a dead end. The Shakey approach to vision, which dominated vision research for a decade, was to try to extract a line drawing (the "primal sketch") from a scene. Then, "reasoning" algorithms were applied to determine which objects occluded other objects.

    At the time, this was incredibly slow, but that wasn't the real problem. The problem is that it only works for worlds composed of simple geometric objects with uniformly colored faces. Shakey's world was a room with big colored blocks, so those algorithms could work.

    Total dead end.

  56. And there's always.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Holly from Red Dwarf...

    Who was Waaaaay better then that dumb looking DALEK thingy.

  57. No distinction between fictional and real? by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

    Seems odd to me that "Robbie" and Sony's robot are included together, as if there is no difference between 1950s SciFi cheese, and real break-through technology.