R.U.R. Revisited: Perspectives and Reflections on Modern Robotics

A critical review of “Rossum’s Universal Robots” (R.U.R.) is attempted beyond its literary aspects from a robotics perspective. The importance of R.U.R. for robotics has been mainly associated with the introduction of the word “Robot”. Apart from its historical value the play provides an expression of many important issues concerning robotics both of philosophical as well as technological nature that are pointed out and briefly discussed. It is interesting that several of these issues constitute research topics for contemporary robotics. The play also loudly voices social concerns regarding the use of robots which are still echoed in today’s societies. The scenario of the play exemplifies how robotics brings tremendous conveniences but at the same time can have unprecedented consequences on people’s lives, which today call for an urgent regulation in order to prevent them. For the robotics community it is both interesting and stimulating to critically (re)consider R.U.R.