Project Number: LES RBE3 2009 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Project Advisor: Lance E. Schachterle Project Co-Advisor: Michael J. Ciaraldi Ryan Cassidy Brannon Cote-Dumphy Jae Seok Lee Wade Mitchell-Evans An Interactive Qualifying Project Report submitted to the Faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science [WHY DO PEOPLE IMAGINE ROBOTS] This project analyzes why people are intrigued by the thought of robots, and why they choose to create them in both reality and fiction. Numerous movies, literature, news articles, online journals, surveys, and interviews have been used in determining the answer. Table of Contents Table of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... IV Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. I Literature Review .................................................................................................................................... 1 Definition of a Robot ........................................................................................................................... 1 Sources of Robots in Literature ............................................................................................................ 1 Online Lists ...................................................................................................................................... 1 History Timeline............................................................................................................................... 2 Introductory Book on Robots ........................................................................................................... 3 Robot Social Literature..................................................................................................................... 9 Robot Literature Novel................................................................................................................... 12 Robot Philosophy Literature .......................................................................................................... 14 Interviews/Survey .......................................................................................................................... 17 Notable Figures.............................................................................................................................. 18 Procedure ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Literature Methodology..................................................................................................................... 20 Interview Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 21 Interview Questions ....................................................................................................................... 21 Survey Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 22 Survey Questions ........................................................................................................................... 22 Survey Monkey Link ....................................................................................................................... 22 Survey Analysis Methodology ........................................................................................................ 23 Results and Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 25 Literature Results .............................................................................................................................. 25 Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Movies ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Movies Summary ........................................................................................................................... 55 Written Works of Literature ........................................................................................................... 56 Written Works of Literature Summary ........................................................................................... 75 Page | I Interview Results and Discussion ....................................................................................................... 77 Interview Hypotheses .................................................................................................................... 77 Interview Analyses ......................................................................................................................... 77 Interview Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 79 Survey Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................... 80 Survey Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................ 80 Robot List ...................................................................................................................................... 82 Positive/Negative Connotation ...................................................................................................... 84 First Memories............................................................................................................................... 86 Future Relationships ...................................................................................................................... 87 Hypothetical Future Robot Functions ............................................................................................. 89 Survey Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 91 Summation of Takeaways .............................................................................................................. 93 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................. 95 Robots as Slaves ................................................................................................................................ 95 Robots as Dominators........................................................................................................................ 96 Robots as Companions ...................................................................................................................... 98 Robots as Equals .............................................................................................................................. 100 Robots as Humans ........................................................................................................................... 101 Conclusion Summary ....................................................................................................................... 102 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 105 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 106 Appendices.......................................................................................................................................... 109 Appendix A: List of Robot Literature ................................................................................................ 109 Appendix B: Robots in Movies Timeline ........................................................................................... 111 Appendix C: A Brief History of Robotics............................................................................................ 114 Appendix D: List of Fictional Robots and Androids ........................................................................... 122 Theatre ........................................................................................................................................ 122 Literature..................................................................................................................................... 122 Major Film Production ................................................................................................................. 125 Television Films and Series ........................................................................................................... 129 Comics ......................................................................................................................................... 138 Page | II Computer and Video Games ........................................................................................................ 141 Appendix E: Robot Tree ..................................................................................................................