3 Laws of Robotics

The History of the Runaround

Research done by: Aliya M.

The short story of the Runaround, by Isaac Asimov, is based off the three laws of robotics. The first law stated is that a robot may not harm anyone, meaning a human, nor will it allow it to come into harm. The second law states a root must the demands given to it excluding orders that come into conflict with the first law. The third law states a robot must protect itself again as long as the protection does not interfere with the first and second laws.

These laws of robotics are used in many different ways, such as in the movie I, Robot. In the Runaround, the main robot, Speedy, is getting conflicted between these three laws. The third law, where a robot must protect itself, is a strong connection for Speedy, however, the second law is quite weak compared to the third laws. This is soon to be a problem because it causes Speedy to act drunk since he is having trouble acting within the second and third law. The two people who are sent to Mercury to get Speedy, realize the only way to help Speedy snap out of the drunk-like behavior is to enforce the first law. This means they must try to put themselves in danger so Speedy will put the first laws into action and save them from danger. One of the characters decides to try and run into the sun to signal to Speedy that if unless he stops behaving how he is, the man running into the sun will die. Since there are multiple robots where they are, another robot almost ruins the plan by putting the first law of robotics into action themselves and tries to save the running man, how Speedy gets to him just in time to save him rather than the other robot saving him.

Images: http://philosophicalasides.blogspot.com/2012/12/i-robot-part-three-runaround.html

https://genius.com/Isaac-asimov-runaround-annotated

http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/isaac-asimovs-robot-visions-visionary.html

https://robotrepublic.org/1261-2/

Research:https://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/robotics.html

https://www.shmoop.com/i-robot/runaround-summary.html

http://web.williams.edu/Mathematics/sjmiller/public_html/105Sp10/handouts/Runaround.html