U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men
Encyclopedia
The fictional corporation U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. is the major manufacturer of robot
s in the 21st century in Isaac Asimov
's Robot Series
of novel
s and short stories
.
U.S. Robots was founded in 1982 by Lawrence Robertson. Dr. Susan Calvin
was the first, and for many years, the only robopsychologist at U.S. Robots, and is the main character in many of Asimov's short stories
, usually dealing with robot problems in the laboratory. In other robot stories Greg Powell and Mike Donovan, field engineers for the company, try to solve robot issues in the field. The short stories also mention Alfred Lanning and Peter Bogert, the Directors of Research (first Lanning, and then Bogert) during Calvin's time at the corporation.
The physical location of the company is unclear. Ultimately, factories are established in many parts of the world, but in one story, "Robot AL-76 Goes Astray", the main factory is said to be located in Schenectady, New York (which implies a connection or allusion to the General Electric
Corporation).
In "Catch that Rabbit
", the company's unofficial motto is revealed to be "No employee makes the same mistake twice. He is fired the first time." The factory of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men is the only place on Earth where robots are allowed to be present in an assembled condition.
Robertson, together with associates, are constantly trying to reverse what they call the Frankenstein complex, and prove to the world that robots are in fact harmless. In one novel, however, Calvin suggests another approach: let people know of the danger, and so increase the thrill, and that way make the subject more demanded among the public. And in that way they would familiarise the robots and mechanical men to the corporation.
Under the name U.S. Robotics, this company is also featured in I, Robot
, the 2004 Will Smith
movie loosely inspired by Asimov's short story collection of the same name
. Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan
) appears in this film in her role at U.S. Robotics as a specialist in robot psychology. This movie presents an attractive woman in her early thirties, while the Dr. Calvin of the written stories has an advanced age, gray or white hair, and is no particular beauty in the Asimov stories.
The computer modem manufacturer U.S. Robotics
was named after the fictional corporation of Asimov's.
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s in the 21st century in Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
's Robot Series
Isaac Asimov's Robot Series
Isaac Asimov's Robot Series is a series of short stories and novels by Isaac Asimov featuring positronic robots.- Short stories :Most of Asimov's robot short stories are set in the first age of positronic robotics and space exploration...
of novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s and short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
.
U.S. Robots was founded in 1982 by Lawrence Robertson. Dr. Susan Calvin
Susan Calvin
Dr. Susan Calvin is a fictional character from Isaac Asimov's Robot Series. She was the chief robopsychologist at US Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc., the major manufacturer of robots in the 21st century...
was the first, and for many years, the only robopsychologist at U.S. Robots, and is the main character in many of Asimov's short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, usually dealing with robot problems in the laboratory. In other robot stories Greg Powell and Mike Donovan, field engineers for the company, try to solve robot issues in the field. The short stories also mention Alfred Lanning and Peter Bogert, the Directors of Research (first Lanning, and then Bogert) during Calvin's time at the corporation.
The physical location of the company is unclear. Ultimately, factories are established in many parts of the world, but in one story, "Robot AL-76 Goes Astray", the main factory is said to be located in Schenectady, New York (which implies a connection or allusion to the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Corporation).
In "Catch that Rabbit
Catch that Rabbit
"Catch that Rabbit" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov that was first published in the February 1944 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the collections I, Robot and The Complete Robot .-Plot summary:...
", the company's unofficial motto is revealed to be "No employee makes the same mistake twice. He is fired the first time." The factory of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men is the only place on Earth where robots are allowed to be present in an assembled condition.
Robertson, together with associates, are constantly trying to reverse what they call the Frankenstein complex, and prove to the world that robots are in fact harmless. In one novel, however, Calvin suggests another approach: let people know of the danger, and so increase the thrill, and that way make the subject more demanded among the public. And in that way they would familiarise the robots and mechanical men to the corporation.
Under the name U.S. Robotics, this company is also featured in I, Robot
I, Robot (film)
I, Robot is a 2004 science-fiction action film directed by Alex Proyas. The screenplay was written by Jeff Vintar, Akiva Goldsman and Hillary Seitz, and is very loosely based on Isaac Asimov's short-story collection of the same name. Will Smith stars in the lead role of the film as Detective Del...
, the 2004 Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
movie loosely inspired by Asimov's short story collection of the same name
I, Robot
I, Robot is a collection of nine science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov, first published by Gnome Press in 1950 in an edition of 5,000 copies. The stories originally appeared in the American magazines Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction between 1940 and 1950. The stories are...
. Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan
Bridget Moynahan
Kathryn Bridget Moynahan , best known as Bridget Moynahan, is an American model and actress. After graduating from Longmeadow High School in 1989, Moynahan pursued a career in modeling. She was signed by a modeling agency, which led her to appear in department store catalogs and the covers of...
) appears in this film in her role at U.S. Robotics as a specialist in robot psychology. This movie presents an attractive woman in her early thirties, while the Dr. Calvin of the written stories has an advanced age, gray or white hair, and is no particular beauty in the Asimov stories.
The computer modem manufacturer U.S. Robotics
U.S. Robotics
USRobotics Corporation is a company that makes computer modems and related products. It sold high-speed modems in the 1980s, and had a reputation for high quality and compatibility. With the reduced usage of voiceband modems in North America in the early 21st century, USR is now one of the few...
was named after the fictional corporation of Asimov's.