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Originally Posted by phrontist
I have a strong suspicion this thread will quickly be a wasteful rehashing of past "popularity contests".
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I agree so would it be considered hijacking this tread if I suggest that we open the discussion to robots in general? What robots in the history of robots from TV bots to space bots to manufacturing bots to lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners do you think are the best or worst and why? Do manufacturing robots take peoples jobs or do they build higher quality products faster and more cost effectively? Do robotic vacuum cleaners take the drudgery out of daily living or do the make us lazy? (For that matter do they actually work?) What do you consider a robot? This may have been beaten to death on CD before but technology advances and opinions change and I don't remember seeing a thread like this so I'll start.
My vote right now would have to go to the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Why? I guess because they are superbly designed and built machines that keep going and going and going and were built solely for the quest of knowledge. I am also simply amazed by the autonomous programming of the Deep Impact spacecraft so I will have to give them a close second. I would consider them robots for sure!