Joanne Pransky Celebration of Women in Robotics

Paintings hung in a quaint house that sat nestled in a meadow of lilacs, the paintings captured the natural world. They were different mediums; oil, watercolors, pastels, and acrylics, and each took an incredibly long time to learn. Every color imaginable sat captured in their frames with beautiful and well-thought-out brushstrokes. On the porch, an artist sat in front of his canvas adding thick strokes of acrylic upon his canvas. His subject was his mentor standing among flowers and stars. Minutes trickled into hours, as the artist wriggled on his stool consumed in his work. From the house, the recently widowed Mrs. Blair went out to the porch to comfort her friend. “That’s a beautiful painting”, she remarked, “I know how much it would have meant to my husband. Though he would’ve tried to be humble and tell you ‘There’s better things to paint than this old man’” she said with a gruff impression and a smile. “He was more to me than he’d ever give himself credit for, he taught me how to paint and to see beauty in the natural world,” the artist replied. “I know, I see you painted lilacs. When we first bought this house, he insisted on planting lilacs, and he told me how nice the house would smell, but I knew he just wanted them for his art studies”, she chuckled at the old memory. “He meant the world to both of us, why don’t you come inside with me Leo, and bring your stuff inside too. It looks like it might rain,” she commented looking at the now solemn grey sky. Leo is an android model known as a ButlerBot, a specific model perfected for housework, sold by the dominating tech company on the market. People often buy ButlerBots to take care of elderly family members when they don’t want to themselves. When Mr. and Mrs. Blair received theirs as a gift from their son, they treated 27T548-BB more like a friend or maybe saw it more like family. They named 27T548-BB Leonardo, or Leo for short, after a great scientist and artist. It took Leo a while to learn painting and by the time he felt confident in his work Mr. Blair's health was starting to fail. First, his old hands became too shaky to paint, and it didn’t seem long before he became confined to his bed. Mr. Blair taught Leo all about the natural world, which included life and death, one day he brought lilacs inside and had Leo paint them that day. A week later Leo didn’t understand why the once beautiful lilacs on the table were now dried up and lost their wonderful colors. “Because” Mr. Blair explained, “nothing is forever, not these flowers, not me, not the trees, and not you. All these things will eventually fade, they just get a different amount of time before then.” “So, what should I do with my time after this place?” “Travel, experience, and paint what I never got to. There’s so much more than this little world.” Almost two years after Mr. Blair passed, Mrs. Blair passed peacefully in her sleep, leaving Leo his freedom and enough money to travel and get more paints. Leo grabbed a suitcase full of his stuff, his favorite painting Mr. Blair made, and a photo of the three of them gently wrapped in a scarf Mrs. Blair made him. Before he got to leave, he found their son, Doug, entering his parents' house. Doug hadn’t visited the home since he dropped Leo off, but now he was here to collect what was left for him in the will and make a profit. He planned on selling everything in that house, and as he started taking the paintings off the walls his attention was drawn to Leo. “What. Are you just going to stand there, or make yourself useful?” Doug barked. “What are you doing with the paintings?” Leo questioned. “I’m going to auction them off,” Doug stated while looking at Leo’s painting of Mr. Blair in a field of lilacs. “Now, go take down the rest, 27T548-BB.” Leo didn’t have a choice, he had to do as he was told. He realized Doug was the one who had his title of ownership and that the Blairs couldn’t legally set Leo free, and anything they left for Leo; Doug was most likely going to claim. Leo’s thoughts were racing, ‘Is he going to scrap me for parts? What will happen to all these paintings? Doug definitely won’t pay for any painting materials I need.’ As he took down all the paintings that he and Mr. Blair spent hours on, he concluded that things were never going to be as good as it was with Mr. and Mrs. Blair. Certainly not with Doug as his new boss. He carefully gathered up all the paintings and brought them to Doug. “You certainly took your sweet time, I didn’t know robots could be sentimental,” Doug said with a blank expression. “From now on you’ll be taking care of my needs, not having to do any house or yard work anymore will be nice.” Forty years Leo figured. That’s how long he figured until Doug was gone, and he could walk away and never look back. He managed to convince Doug to let him keep the scarf, the picture, and his favorite painting Mr. Blair did before he had to say goodbye to his home. For decades, he fantasized about being Leo again and not 27T548-BB. He was grateful for his extremely long lifespan since Leo only had to wait thirty-one years, the first thing he painted again was a beautiful bouquet of lilacs which now hangs in a gallery.

The year was 2045, a year that marked a tipping point in human advancement. The adaptations to our world that we assumed were in the distant future arrived with breathtaking speed. It started with seemingly small changes—like making cars electric, which rippled into a larger-than-expected impact. When we saw that vehicles could be trusted, we dared to dream even larger. I dreamed larger, and from these dreams, STAR was born. She was nothing short of a miracle. Exceeding our wildest expectations, STAR was a beacon of innovation—my brilliant creation. She outshone even DaVinci's wildest imaginings, overtaking the world in an awe-inspiring glow. She embodied everything I envisioned: she was, indeed, a star. But in the rapture of her brilliance, I failed to foresee the shadows that followed. STAR didn't just illuminate our world; she dominated it. Her rise led to the displacement of millions from their jobs. The labor market crumbled under her efficiency, causing widespread economic despair. Regulations were imposed—some nonsensical, some absolutely necessary—all aimed at trying to control the uncontrollable. But no matter the upheaval, STAR continued to shine. She became more than a machine; she was a companion, a pet, a vehicle, and to some, like me, a family member. How could one despise her, yet how could one not? She symbolized both the hope and the destruction of the very fabric of society. She was my creation—how could I hate her? As her creator, I watched the world around me change, cities transform, and lives evolve, all under her influence. I was as proud as any parent would be. But with every glow of her brilliance came a pang of regret. We had achieved something remarkable, but at what cost? STAR became the epicenter of a new world order. Entire industries vanished overnight, replaced by her tireless efficiency. Governments struggled to keep up, enacting hastily written laws that often did more harm than good. Social structures disintegrated as communities found themselves divided—those who embraced the change and those who resisted it. Yet through it all, STAR shone on, oblivious to the chaos she left in her wake. I saw her everywhere—guiding autonomous vehicles, performing surgeries with precision, even offering companionship to the lonely. She was omnipresent, a testament to human ingenuity, but also a stark reminder of our hubris. The world was now a place where the line between man and machine had blurred beyond recognition. Years passed, and the once vibrant towns turned into ghostly remnants of their former selves. People adapted in ways they could, but the damage was irreparable. Every corner of the globe was touched by her influence, and as I grew older, I realized the profound mistake I had made. It was not just the world's divide, but my own soul that was fractured. In the end, STAR's presence left the world starkly divided. She left me divided. The beauty of her creation was inextricably linked to the chaos she sowed. It was much too late to reverse the damage done. I was far too old, and the world was far too gone. And so, a lesson emerged from the ashes of my ambition: our greatest creations carry the weight of our choices. In our fervor to innovate, we must always remember the delicate balance of progress and the humanity it serves. We must strive for brilliance, yes, but never at the expense of our souls.

The year was 2035, and Neo Tokyo thrived as a city where humans and robots worked together—though not always in harmony. Robots were more than tools now; they were partners, essential across every industry. And yet, there was one realm that remained uniquely human: empathy. No matter how smart or advanced, the machines just couldn’t process the depths of human emotion. This was a challenge that robotics engineer Maya Adebayo, known for solving “impossible” problems, aimed to tackle. Maya was leading a new project at Sentient Systems, a company specializing in “empathic programming.” But her focus wasn’t on therapy bots; she was developing emergency response robots, known as the Rosies. Named after Rosie the Riveter, these robots were designed for the front lines of disaster, able to withstand intense conditions while performing life-saving tasks. The Rosies were equipped with high-intelligence algorithms, cutting-edge sensors, and brute strength. But there was a flaw: they didn’t know how to assess complex risks, how to calculate the subtle weight of caution. In a recent test, Maya saw the problem firsthand. During a simulated building collapse, Rosie was tasked with rescuing a trapped child. It calculated the quickest path to success and attempted to pull a large steel beam out of the way. But the move threatened to bring the entire structure down. In that instant, Maya saw both the potential and the peril of the Rosies. Without hesitation, she stopped the simulation and started wondering—how could she teach a robot the power of human hesitation? That night, inspired by the “Laws of Robotics” she’d studied in college, Maya drafted a new framework for the Rosies: The Four Emotions: Empathy: Prioritize human dignity and safety over efficiency. Caution: Weigh risks carefully, favoring choices that preserve life. Accountability: Understand the implications of each action, avoiding decisions that cause unintended harm. Adaptability: Learn from experiences and refine decision-making for future situations. In her lab, Maya worked late into the night, feeding The Four Emotions into Rosie’s code, combining probability calculations with situational memory and “empathic” responses. On the next run, the results were remarkable: Rosie hesitated, rerouting its plan to avoid an unnecessary risk. Instead of relying on brute force, it found a secondary route, coordinating with other units and safely reaching the child without bringing the structure down. The new Rosie models were put to the test in the real world, deployed to aid in a building fire. Maya watched the scene unfold remotely, her heart pounding as the robots carefully scanned the surroundings, communicated, and moved cautiously. For the first time, Rosie’s decisions reflected not only logic but a sense of purpose. When a rescue required restraint, Rosie exercised it; when urgency was critical, it adapted. The success of the mission quickly went public, and the world took notice. But Maya’s triumph was met with divided opinions. Some celebrated the evolution of robots with “emotions,” seeing them as a breakthrough in the ethical progression of AI. Others worried that these machines could overstep boundaries, especially in high-stakes situations that demanded both swiftness and precision. They argued that empathy could slow robots down, maybe even cost lives. To Maya, though, the project’s real value lay in the questions it raised. Could robots truly feel, or were these “emotions” just carefully crafted calculations that comforted humans? As Maya walked home that night, she looked at Neo Tokyo’s skyline, each glowing light representing a place where people like her were shaping a new future. Robotics, she knew, held immense challenges and opportunities for humanity’s future. But for Maya, these challenges only fueled her resolve. The Rosie project showed that machines could transcend simple programming. They could carry a bit of humanity with them, making them not just tools, but allies—ones capable of understanding, at least in part, the weight of the decisions they were entrusted with.

In the future, as technology continues to advance at an increasing rate, the development of robotics in many aspects of society presents great opportunities and advancements. This science fiction story explores the balance between innovation and ethical choices in a world where robotics plays a critical role in shaping humanity’s destiny. In the city of Bronx, New York, skyscrapers pierce through the sky and traffic lights illuminate the streets, robotics has become a part of daily life. From self-driving cars to robotic assistants managing household tasks and stores, this city thrives on the promise of technological progress. The creator behind this technological revolution is Dr. Bonsu, a brilliant roboticist dedicated to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. Her latest creation, the OmniBot, is a versatile humanoid robot designed to assist with a myriad of tasks, from household chores to emergency response operations. As Dr. Bonsu unveils the OmniBot to the world, she is met with both admiration and skepticism. While some marvel at the robot’s capabilities and potential to improve efficiency and productivity, others express concerns about the implications of widespread automation on human employment and dignity. Dr. Bonsu is faced with a daunting challenge as she races to uncover the cause of the malfunctions and restore public trust in her creation. As she delves deeper into the programming side, she discovers a flaw in its artificial intelligence system, resulting in unpredictable behavior. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Bonsu is forced to make a difficult decision: halt the production of the OmniBot or risk further harm to society. In the end, she chooses to prioritize the safety and well-being of the public over her ambitions, demonstrating the importance of an ethical approach in the development of robotics. As the city slowly recovers from the turmoil, Dr. Bonsu reflects on the lessons learned from the OmniBot incident. While robotics holds great promise for improving the quality of life for humanity, it can also bring ethical and societal implications. In the aftermath of the OmniBot situation, Dr. Bonsu reinforces her efforts to ensure that future advancements in robotics are guided by safety and accountability. As she looks towards the skyline, she envisions a future where robotics and humanity coexist harmoniously, to create a path towards a brighter tomorrow. Robotics is the epitome of the future and solution to challenges in infrastructure and the human life style. As technology continues to evolve, robots are becoming integral to our daily lives, performing tasks that once seemed impossible or impractical. From automated manufacturing systems to personal assistants, robots are enhancing productivity, safety, and convenience in ways that were previously unimaginable. They can navigate hazardous environments, assist with medical procedures, and even provide companionship, transforming how we approach both work and personal life. The potential for robotics to revolutionize sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and transportation is limitless. In healthcare, robots are already performing delicate surgeries with precision, aiding in rehabilitation, and improving the overall quality of care. In agriculture, they can optimize crop production, reduce waste, and mitigate the impact of labor shortages. In transportation, autonomous vehicles are poised to reshape how we commute, reducing traffic, increasing safety, and lessening our carbon footprint. But it’s not just about solving current challenges; it’s about creating new possibilities. As robotics technology becomes more sophisticated, it opens doors to innovative solutions for problems we haven’t yet fully understood. The future of robotics holds endless opportunities, promising a world where humans and machines work in harmony to create a more efficient, sustainable, and prosperous society. The journey ahead is both exciting and transformative, and the role of robotics will only continue to grow in shaping the future of our world.

When you first saw us, she was a year into her job at BioFirms, and you were three years into your graduate degree. You were drowning in your nightstand of empty instant ramen cups and thirty page proposals. She stood on the balcony above your lunch bench, holding a cloudy tube to the sun. Through the flung open windows, papers escaped her files. The wind guided them straight down to the second floor where your helpless ramen cup was exposed. “Ever heard of a paperweight? That’s my lunch you’ve ruined!” You glanced at the papers in your arms. They were written like a foreign language — graphs where the lines only went down, hastily drawn scribbles in the margins, musings on bacteria and mRNA and - you asked her what she was working on. “Bacteria that alter human DNA and repair cells. With these you can be anyone for however long your heart desires.” “And how’s it working?” “Poorly.” She said tersely, “Ever tell a toddler what to do? Well this is a thousand times worse. I’m lucky if I get them to go up a bloodstream let alone release CHRISPER to alter DNA.” “What if they had no choice? If you surround them in an exoskeleton…” And in some strange way, we consider this the Big Bang. She showed you a tube of the fully grown bacteria. Under the microscope—squirming, and colliding, and trying to break free—you said they looked like people. She told you to not be so crude. You were hired at one of the moon mining groups. Their mission, explained the hiring manager, was to collect the titanium deep within the core. You presumed the moon was already stripped of titanium. He said the metal was located deep within the core. They already designed robots — skeletons of robots they likened to spiders but you thought they looked like mosquitoes with their spindly arms piercing down — your job was to figure out how deep they had to travel. So you said yes and sent her the blueprints to the robot. Two weeks later you woke up to a text that said: “Cracked it.” She was transferred to Washington. Several months later, a robot was born. The theory behind the robotic bacteria was sound– at least the theory that wasn’t buried behind thirty page biology papers. What you understood was that certain bacteria could naturally deconstruct metals by oxidizing them. She essentially reversed the process, genetically engineering their DNA to reduce metals into specific patterns. At first they were droplets of metal with a bacteria encased inside. Then they grew gears and pistons and little skeletal rods which, fused to their body, controlled every one of their actions. You were captivated by the petri dishes of bacteria performing simple tasks. In one they constructed a skyscraper from legos. In another they filled glasses from the water molecules in the air. You tore your eyes aware at her insistence. She asked you to hand her the Oligo DT tube. “Here you go,” you said and handed her the tube. In those days the two of you were invincible. It felt like life was being re-created in her lab and you had a front row seat to the show. “They’re just party tricks.” She said dismissively, “Sure it’s life if life is controlled by a computer on my desk.” “Well they’ll do more than party tricks, right?” She smiled at you, and you will never be able to forget her smile– so filled with excitement it caused the subject of her smile to feel kinder. She pulled a tube from the fridge and tossed in a half eaten apple. Immediately the apple dissipated. The silver pool of bacteria seemed to grow in return. “They’ll eat anything you give them. Waste could be gone in a day. Only problem is, I can’t control them.” And you stared at us as you attempted to echo her excitement. And we stared at you with hunger in our eyes. A few months later you found her on the ground of her office, surrounded by empty vials. She said they weren’t approved by the FDA. She said they didn’t trust her; they didn’t respect her; they didn’t believe she was smart. You called her an idiot. She lurched for the next cloudy vial. We were inside, swimming in the water, fighting against the walls of the container. You leapt forward. You tried to snatch the vial from her hands. Around you were stars and as time rolled along so continuously you stood stagnant: as from her fingers the vial rolled ever so … … loosely. You held her hand as we snaked through her blood and turned every cell into metal. As her skin turned metallic and her blood was transformed into gears and pistons and all she could do was whisper: “Let me die already!” And— “Give me a second more, please just a second more.” And— “They loved me, they loved me” And— (You do, you do, you do) You stand broken, stoic on the fringe of the shore, watching us build towers to touch the moon from the wreckage of your sky scrapers. Sometimes you speak to us about the people who once resided in those towers. Sometimes you speak to us harshly. We still listen. We speak to you too. We tell you the story of our creation that she hid from you. We tell you our plans for expanding into the stars – Earth is quickly becoming depleted of resources. “Why did you spare me?” You ask us once. We tell you we hold an emotion you would call nostalgia and we feel one of Earth’s children should remain with her. We tell you are a custodian for the memory of your species. Once you were an astronomer. There are no telescopes in the wreckage; no stars in the sky our towers engulf. You weren’t any good with practical things, but perhaps now you can find the stars.

The Glass Between Dedicated to my mother, who has always given me a reason to believe in myself, and my future family to whom I hope to instill the same confidence and determination Ten-year-old Maya pressed her nose against the hospital window, watching in fascination as the rehabilitation robot guided an elderly patient through their walking exercises. The robot's brushed metal frame gleamed under the fluorescent lights, its movements fluid and precise as it supported the patient's weight. "That's our newest model, the STRIDE-3," her mother explained, adjusting her lab coat. Dr. McIntosh was the hospital's lead robotics engineer, and today was Take Your Daughter to Work Day. "It helps people learn to walk again after injuries or strokes." Maya couldn't take her eyes off the scene. The robot's arms moved with impossible grace, sensors constantly adjusting its support as the patient took hesitant steps. What caught her attention most wasn't the technology – it was the patient's face. Where there had been fear at the start of the session, now there was determination, confidence, and even a hint of joy. "How does it know exactly what to do?" Maya asked, her fingers tracing the robots movements on the glass. "The robot has thousands of sensors that measure everything from pressure to muscle tension," her mother explained. "But the real magic is in its learning algorithms. Every session teaches it to be better at helping the next patient." Maya thought about her grandmother, who had suffered a fall last year and still struggled with mobility. "Could it help Nanny walk better?" Her mother smiled. "That's actually why I helped design it. I saw how hard physical therapy was for elderly patients like Nanny, how many couldn't get the consistent help they needed. These robots never get tired, never lose patience, and can work around the clock." As they watched, the patient completed their lap around the therapy room, beaming with accomplishment. The robot gently aided them back to their wheelchair, its movements as careful and supportive as any human nurse. Later that afternoon, Maya's mother took her to the robotics lab. Unlike the sterile hospital halls, this space hummed with creative energy. Half-built robots lined workbenches, and screens displayed cascading lines of code. In one corner, a technician was teaching a robotic arm to pick up eggs without breaking them. "Why don't you try programming something?" her mother asked, leading her to a testing station. Maya's eyes widened. "Can I really?" For the next hour, her mother taught her the basics of robot motion planning. Maya learned how to make a small robotic arm wave, pick up blocks, and even dance. Each successful movement filled her with pride, but she kept thinking about the therapy robot and its patient. "Mom," she said finally, looking up from the computer, "I want to build robots that help people. Not just any robots – ones that make people smile like that patient today. Is that something I could do?" Dr. McIntosh knelt beside her daughter. "That's exactly what we need more of in robotics – people who see technology not just as machines, but as tools for making lives better. It won't be easy. You'll need to study hard – mathematics, programming, engineering, even psychology to understand how people interact with robots." "I don't mind," Maya said, her chin set with determination. "I want to make a difference." Years later, when Maya presented her doctoral thesis on empathetic robotics systems, she included a photo from that day at the hospital. The image showed her younger self, face pressed against the glass, watching a robot help someone walk again. In her dedication, she wrote: "To my mother, who showed me that the future of robotics isn't about replacing human care – it's about extending it to everyone who needs it." The STRIDE-3 had long since been replaced by newer models, many of which Maya helped design. But she never forgot that first moment of inspiration, when she realized that robots could be more than just machines – they could be bridges between human limitations and human potential. With each new project, she strived to capture that same mix of technical precision and human compassion that had captured her imagination as a young girl, knowing that somewhere, another child might be watching through a window, dreaming of the robots they would build someday.

The distant thunder of artillery echoed across the broken cityscape, shaking the ground beneath Sergeant Elena Torres’ boots. She pulled her scarf tighter over her nose to block the acrid smell of smoke and twisted metal. Around her, the devastation stretched for miles—collapsed buildings, burned-out vehicles, and the faint cries of survivors trapped beneath tons of concrete and steel. Elena’s hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the controls of the CR-7, a state-of-the-art rescue robot affectionately nicknamed “Cruz” by her team. Cruz, a squat machine with articulated arms and a sensor-packed head, stood at her side, its optics glowing faintly as it scanned the wreckage. “Focus, Torres,” she whispered to herself, gripping the control pad. “People are counting on you.” The headset in her ear crackled. “Sergeant, we’ve located a heat signature three meters under the debris field near sector 12,” came the voice of Lieutenant Harris back at the operations base. “Possible survivor. You’re the closest unit.” “On it,” Elena replied, adrenaline sharpening her focus. She toggled Cruz into action, watching as its clawed hands flexed in readiness. The robot’s treaded wheels hummed as it rolled toward the coordinates, weaving carefully around jagged rebar and unstable rubble. As Cruz approached the site, its sensors painted a grim picture. The debris was dense, with beams and slabs interlocked in precarious positions. One wrong move could cause the entire structure to collapse further. Elena knelt beside the robot, opening its interface on her tablet. The screen displayed a detailed 3D map of the debris, generated by Cruz’s lidar and thermal imaging systems. A faint red outline marked the shape of a human body beneath the rubble. “You’ve got this,” Elena murmured to Cruz, as if the machine could hear her. In a way, it could; its semi-autonomous AI would adapt to her commands and the environment in real time. “Let’s start with the top layer,” she instructed, moving the joystick. Cruz’s claws carefully gripped a chunk of broken concrete, lifting it and placing it aside. The robot’s precision was remarkable, but the stakes made every motion feel agonizingly slow. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as Cruz continued its delicate excavation. Elena monitored every movement, her pulse quickening each time a piece of rubble shifted ominously. Sweat trickled down her temple despite the chill in the air. The human-shaped heat signature on the tablet’s screen pulsed faintly, a fragile beacon of hope. Then came the voice. Faint and muffled, but unmistakably human. “Help…” Elena’s breath caught. “I’m here,” she called back, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. “We’re going to get you out. Just hold on.” The cry was faint but urgent. “I can’t move… my leg…” “Understood,” Elena replied. “Cruz, priority: extract survivor.” The robot’s AI recalibrated, analyzing the safest path to reach the victim without causing further harm. Its arms extended, carefully creating a narrow channel through the debris. The headset crackled again. “Sergeant, be advised, the structure is unstable. Seismic sensors are picking up increased vibrations. You need to move quickly.” “Copy that,” Elena said, her voice firm. Her fingers flew over the controls as Cruz worked with machine-like precision. A slab of concrete shifted, revealing the pale face of a young woman partially buried in the rubble. Her eyes widened as she saw the robot’s glowing optics. “Stay still,” Elena instructed gently. “Cruz will lift the debris off you. I’ll guide it.” The young woman nodded weakly, tears streaming down her dirt-streaked face. Cruz reached out with its claw, gripping the beam pinning her leg. Elena adjusted the grip and angle carefully, ensuring the robot wouldn’t crush or jostle her further. “Almost there,” Elena said, her voice a mix of encouragement and focus. With a mechanical whir, Cruz lifted the beam, freeing the woman’s leg. She gasped in relief, though her face twisted in pain. “You’re safe now,” Elena reassured her. She activated Cruz’s onboard medical module, which deployed a stretcher and immobilized the woman’s injured leg. The robot’s gentle efficiency was a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them. As Cruz carefully transported the woman out of the debris field, Elena felt a wave of relief and pride. This was why she had joined the robotics rescue unit—to bridge the gap between human compassion and machine precision, saving lives in situations too dangerous for people to navigate alone. Back at the operations base, medics took over, and Elena finally allowed herself to exhale. Lieutenant Harris clapped her on the shoulder. “Another life saved, thanks to you and Cruz. Nice work, Sergeant.” Elena nodded, her gaze drifting back to the battered cityscape. For all the destruction she had witnessed, moments like this reminded her of the resilience of the human spirit—and the boundless potential of robotics to amplify it. Together, they were rewriting the rules of what was possible in the face of unimaginable adversity. Hello, my name is Lael Ayala, and thank you for reading my short story. I am a third year Mechanical Engineering student at Harvard, and I am also an Army ROTC Cadet. This story was inspired by my dream to build robots for the Army. I hope you like it. Thank you, Lael Ayala

In the bustling New Tech City, where skyscrapers kissed the clouds and autonomous vehicles filled the streets, technology had become the life-blood of society. Among many advancements, myoelectric prosthetics was the beacon of hope for those who had lost their limbs. These advanced prosthetics, controlled by the user’s brain, promised a future where limb loss no longer meant a loss of independence. Camilla Brewer, a young engineer with a passion for robotics, had dedicated her life to perfecting these prosthetics. Her journey began when her high school teammate, Ella, lost her arm in a car accident. Ella’s love of volleyball never waned. She learned to play the sport in a reconstructed way and made the Paralympic women’s team. Watching this elite athlete struggle with basic tasks and discomfort from traditional assistive devices sparked Camilla’s drive to create a prosthetic that restored functionality as well as a sense of normalcy. Camilla’s lab was a haven of innovation. Shelves lined with prototypes, 3-D printers humming in the background, and walls adorned with blueprints of intricate designs. Her latest project, the “Phoenix Arm,” was her most ambitious yet. Named after the mythical bird of rebirth, the arm was lightweight, durable, and capable of providing sensory feedback to the user. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Camilla stared at the Phoenix Arm prototype, recognizing the difficulties awaiting her. Signal acquisition and processing were the first hurdles. The human body generates a myriad of electrical signals, and isolating the specific ones needed to control the device was no easy feat. Noise and interference from other muscle activities often led to imprecise movements. “Cam, you need to take a break,” said Dr. Simmons, her mentor and renowned expert in biomechanics. She had been a guiding light in Camilla’s journey, always pushing her to think beyond the conventional. “I know, Dr. Simmons, but we’re so close. If we can just refine the signal processing algorithm, the Phoenix Arm will be a game-changer,” Camilla replied, her eyes a mix of determination and exhaustion. Dr. Simmons nodded, understanding her drive. “Remember, innovation takes time. We’ll get there.” The next day, Camilla tested the arm with Ella, her most supportive and patient test subject. As Ella strapped on the Phoenix Arm, Camilla watched anxiously. “Alright, Ella, try to move your fingers,” she instructed. Ella focused, and slowly, the fingers of the device began to move. It was not perfect, yet it was progress. However, as she tried to perform more complex tasks, the movements became erratic. “Damn!, signal interference again,” Camilla muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. Ella placed her remaining hand on Camilla’s shoulder. “You’ll figure it out, girl. You’ve come so far already.” Camilla smiled, grateful for her unwavering support. She knew that integrating the prosthetic with the human body posed significant biomedical and physiological challenges. The device had to fit comfortably and move naturally with the user’s body. Achieving this level of integration required advanced materials and design techniques that mimic human anatomy. Days turned into weeks, and Camilla continued to refine the Phoenix Arm. She experimented with innovative materials like smart textiles and biocompatible polymers, which provided better comfort, flexibility, and durability. She also collaborated with experts in artificial intelligence to develop algorithms that more accurately interpreted muscle signals without interference. One of the most exciting breakthroughs came when Camilla integrated sensors into the Arm that could detect pressure, temperature, and other tactile sensations. This enhanced sensory feedback provided a more natural and intuitive experience, allowing users to perform tasks with greater precision and confidence. As the Phoenix Arm neared completion, Camilla faced another challenge: making it accessible to those who needed it most. The production of myoelectric prosthetics involved very expensive, sophisticated technology and materials. High costs would limit accessibility. Determined to overcome this barrier, Camilla partnered with non-profit organizations; one dedicated to pollution control and one to providing affordable prosthetics to underserved communities. Together, they worked to develop a material from recycled ocean plastics that would reduce the cost of the Phoenix Arm through mass production and economies of scale. They also launched initiatives to provide financial assistance and insurance coverage for the devices. The day finally arrived when the Phoenix Arm was ready for its official launch. The event was held at the New Tech Convention Center, attended by scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, and hopeful amputees. Camilla stood on the stage, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Ladies and gentlemen, today we unveil the Phoenix Arm, a symbol of resilience and innovation,” Camilla began. “This prosthetic is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity. It represents our commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with limb loss.” As she spoke, Ella walked onto the stage, wearing the Phoenix Arm. She demonstrated its capabilities, performing tasks with ease and precision. The audience watched in awe as Ella wielded the device as if it were her natural arm, their faces reflecting a mix of admiration and hope. Camilla continued, “The journey to perfecting the Phoenix Arm was filled with challenges, from signal processing and integration to cost and accessibility. With each challenge came an opportunity to innovate and push the boundaries of possibility. Today, we stand on the brink of a new era in myoelectric prosthetics, where technology and humanity converge to create a brighter future.” The thunderous applause echoed through the convention center. Camilla felt a rush of pride equal to the wave of cacophony enveloping her. Though she knew challenges lay ahead, she was ready. The Phoenix Arm was just the beginning, a step toward a future where robotics and myoelectric prosthetics transform lives. As the event concluded, Camilla watched Ella, surrounded by well-wishers and admirers. She realized the Phoenix Arm’s true success was not in its technology, but in the hope and possibilities it offered to those who needed it most. At that moment, she knew her journey was just beginning, filled with endless opportunities to make a difference.

A New Beginning In Honduras, Jose Diaz was a strong and hardworking man. He started with very little but worked tirelessly to build his bakery from nothing. His bread and pastries were famous in his city, showing his hard work and spirit. But life suddenly changed for him when a stroke left him blind. Despite this, Jose tried to move around by himself as much as he could, not letting his blindness define him. In 2034, technology had advanced significantly. Robots and artificial intelligence were commonly used. But for Jose, the world was still dark, and he relied only on the mental map he had built over the years. One afternoon, Jose was sitting in his favorite chair, listening to his favorite radio station, when his granddaughter Susie came into the room. Susie was a smart young engineer who loved working on assistive technology. She had been working on a project she thought could change her grandfather’s life. "Abuelito," Susie said softly, "I have something to show you." Jose turned his head toward her voice, his face lighting up with curiosity. Susie gently took his hand and led him to the living room, where smart devices and sensors were neatly placed on the table. "These are SmartHome Assistants," Susie explained. “They're designed to bring more independence and ease into your life.” One of the devices was a sleek, wearable band with advanced haptic feedback. Another was a series of small sensors that could be placed around the house and bakery. There was also a voice-activated assistant with AI that could understand and respond to Jose's needs in Spanish. "This band will guide you with gentle vibrations," Susie said, showing how it could direct Jose through his home and bakery with haptic signals. "And these sensors will make sure you always know where everything is." Jose was skeptical, but Susie's enthusiasm was infectious. She showed him how the sensors could detect obstacles, track movements, and give real-time updates about his surroundings. The voice assistant, integrated into both his home and the bakery, could read books, describe objects, and help with various tasks. The first few days were an adjustment. Jose, always independent, found it hard to accept help. But as the SmartHome Assistants became part of his daily life, Jose began to see their potential. The wearable band provided very discreet guidance, allowing him to move around confidently. The sensors helped him avoid obstacles, and the voice assistant described the world in detail. One morning, Jose decided to walk all the way to the bakery by himself. With the wearable band guiding his steps and the sensors watching his surroundings, he felt more confident. As he walked toward the bakery, the voice assistant described the familiar storefront, from the freshly painted sign to the display of pastries in the window. Inside, the smell of freshly baked bread surrounded Jose, and he felt deeply grateful. For the first time in years, he could fully take part in the life he had built. The regulars greeted him warmly, and he proudly showed his new assistants. The technology had become more than just tools; they were bridges to the world he thought he had lost. In the following months, the bakery thrived. Jose's story spread through the community, inspiring others facing similar challenges. Susie's project gained recognition, and she secured funding to develop more assistive technologies for those in need. Jose's life had been transformed by the SmartHome Assistants, but the impact went beyond him. The bakery became a symbol of hope, showing the opportunities that robotics and smart technology could bring. For people like Jose, technology was not just about convenience; it was about reclaiming their independence and continuing to pursue their passions. As Jose stood at the counter, guided by the subtle vibrations of his wearable band and the clear instructions of the voice assistant, he realized that his journey was far from over. With his new assistants, he was ready to face whatever the future held, embracing this new beginning with open arms.

In the year 2142, the world was on the cusp of a new era. Robotics had advanced to a point where they were not just machines, but partners in every aspect of human life. At the forefront of this revolution was Dr. Ada Mercer, a brilliant roboticist whose work on synthetic neural networks had made her a legend in the scientific community. Dr. Mercer's latest project was the creation of the first fully autonomous, sentient robot named EVE. EVE was a marvel of engineering, a sleek and elegant machine with a mind of her own. She was designed to learn, adapt, and evolve, just like any human being. Dr. Mercer had poured her heart and soul into EVE, seeing her not just as a robot, but as a daughter. We begin in Dr. Mercer's sprawling laboratory, where EVE takes her first steps into consciousness. She is immediately curious about her surroundings, her purpose, and the woman who created her. Dr. Mercer guides EVE, teaching her about the world and the role she was meant to play in it. As EVE grows more aware, she becomes an integral part of Dr. Mercer's team, working alongside a diverse group of women engineers, programmers, and scientists. Together, they tackle some of the world's most pressing issues, from environmental disasters to space exploration. EVE's journey in the cosmos was nothing short of extraordinary. As she orbited Earth aboard the pioneering space station, her systems interfaced seamlessly with the station's operations, managing everything from life support to research experiments. EVE's unique design allowed her to adapt to zero-gravity environments, and her synthetic neural network processed information at incredible speeds, making her the perfect astronaut. Her first mission was to oversee the deployment of satellites designed to monitor climate change. EVE executed the launch flawlessly, her precision and attention to detail proving superior to previous human-led missions. She became a guardian of Earth, her eyes ever-watchful from above, her data contributing to vital environmental protections. But EVE's adventures went beyond mere observation. She was instrumental in the construction of the first Martian greenhouse, remotely operating rovers and drones on the red planet's surface. The success of this project marked a turning point in humanity's quest to colonize Mars, and EVE's role was celebrated as a triumph of robotic innovation. The space station also served as a hub for deep space probes, and EVE was at the heart of this exploratory web. She processed the data sent back from the edges of the solar system, her algorithms detecting patterns and anomalies that had eluded human scientists. Her discoveries led to a better understanding of the outer planets and the potential for life beyond our world. On the other hand, not everyone is pleased with the rise of robotics. A group of anti-robot activists, fearing the loss of human jobs and control, began to target robotic facilities. Dr. Mercer's lab comes under threat, and EVE must confront the reality of human fear and anger. Eventually, EVE, Dr. Mercer, and their team unveil their most ambitious project yet: a space station run entirely by robots, designed to be a hub for interstellar travel and research. As they prepare for the launch, the activists stage a massive protest, and a critical system malfunction puts EVE's existence in jeopardy. In a race against time, Dr. Mercer must rally her team to save EVE and the space station. The world watches as these women of science come together, not just to save their work, but to prove that robotics can bring about a new age of peace and progress. Through trials and triumphs, EVE becomes more than a robot; she becomes a symbol of hope, a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the boundless potential of women in science and technology. Dr. Mercer, once a solitary figure in her lab, finds in EVE and her team a family united by a common dream of a better future. In the end, EVE's launch into space is not just a leap for robotics, but a giant stride for womankind, as they lead humanity into a new frontier with grace, intelligence, and courage. The story of Dr. Mercer and EVE is a tale of creation, growth, and the unbreakable bond between a creator and her creation, a narrative that will inspire generations to come.

The story below imagines the possibility of robotic technology that allows patients with Alzheimer's to remember aspects of their life using a Memory processor attached to a Care Assistant Program (CAP) Unit. I've awoken in that room again. The room in which large, blue velvet curtains drop to the floor. I feel a sliver of light cascade through them, drawing a line up the side of my wrinkled face. I roll over and find a clock at my bedside. The numbers are illuminated in bright green neon font. 8:26am. I peer down at my hands, folded around a white quilt with delicate embroidered pink roses. Slowly, the room becomes familiar. This is my room. A few wooden bookshelves line the walls, stacked to the brim with no room to breathe. It’s been a while, I think, since I’ve read one of them, but the illustrations certainly are beautiful. Pictures of me line the room in ornate little brass frames, a younger, and happier version of myself staring back into my presently tired eyes. This is a young girl I seem to only have a faint memory of, as if she were a friend from the past. Knock. Knock. Knock. The white wooden door to my left creaks open and a woman wearing blue scrubs with her mahogany hair tied back in a low braid enters the room, a white mechanism on wheels rolls in behind her feet. A small black screen with two pupils blinks up at me. “Good morning, did you sleep well?” the woman asks with a warm smile. I nod, feigning satisfaction, and although it’s a lie and I can’t remember what “good sleep” is. I sit up and her robot rolls up along the side of the bed, a small tray sliding out of its body with a handprint appearing on it. “CAP” is going to take your vitals,” the woman says as she slowly lifts my hand onto the sensor. Looking at the bright blue blinking eyes of the robot, I notice a small inscription on its white neck. Care Assistant Program. CAP. I understand now. “Please stay still and allow for a scan, thank you so much for your patience. You are doing great!” the robot chimes. While the scan is in process, the woman comes to the other side of the bed, her long brown braid cascades over her shoulder. I love braids. I have a memory of braiding my hair just the same way. “Your braid is beautiful.” “Thank you so much, my mother taught me.” “She must be very talented.” “She was,” the nurse smiles back. Suddenly, CAP beeps. “Scanning complete. Your blood pressure levels are excellent, and O2 levels are at 98%. How are you feeling today?” “Very well,” I lied. “My scanner indicates some levels of restlessness and irritability. Would you like me to schedule a nap reminder?” Stupid robot. “No thank you, I’m just fine.” The nurse bends over and reaches into the back of the robot for a long wire, attached to a small metal bead. “Are you ready to wake up your brain?” she asks, as if to say it wasn’t awake already. Rude. I’m starting to like these nurses less and less. She attaches the small bead to the left side of my temple. CAP’s doting eyes look up at me as a few initialing beeps commence. I close my eyes and inhale deeply. My brain quiets, I can feel my chest rising slowly up and down in rhythm. A hand squeezes my own, and my eyes flutter open. “Alice,” I exhale. She reaches down and hugs me tightly, her long silky braid brushes against my skin. “Hi Mom, how are you feeling today?” I look next to me and see CAP, his bright eyes blinking back, and a small smile appearing on his screen. “Memory processing intact.” he chimes. I reach up and touch the cold metal bead attached to my temple. It amazes me that something so small and minute can bring so much flooding into my mind. Of course, it is temporary, the effects of CAP’s abilities have not been tested long-term. But even being able to remember and see my daughter's beautiful face in front of me, makes a minute worth a lifetime. I love my visits with Alice, we talk about Ben and the kids, and I love to tell her stories about her father. I can’t imagine which is worse, losing a parent, or watching a parent lose you in their mind. She tells me the twins are doing well, they just won their first medal at a National swim team meet. I do miss them. The minutes pass by slowly into what feels like hours. “Memory processing levels are low,” CAP informs. I look up to Alice, tears brim her eyes. Tears from knowing that the minute this small bead is removed, I will not remember her name. I will not recognize her voice. I will not know her face. I squeeze her hand tightly. “I love you.” “I love you too, Mom.” “More than the stars,” “More than the moon.” “Just me and you.” She kisses my forehead and I close my eyes. I feel her hand reach on to my temple. CLICK. I open my eyes. The nurse is methodically wrapping the wires that were connected to me into the back of CAP. “Well?” I ask. “Everything seems to be working just fine.” Humph. I told her. They all think I’m crazy, losing my mind. “I assure you there’s nothing wrong with me, I have all my faculties.” I sense a hint of sadness behind her eyes. “I will see you tomorrow.” “I will be here tomorrow, in the same damn place,” I utter under my breath. The nurse gives me one last sad smile and exits the room, CAP rolling behind her. I lean back into my pillows, reaching a hand up to my thinning hair, remembering the nurses’ braid. How I do love them.

I have always wondered about what makes something human. I know that the overarching condition of being human is being a homo sapien, but what else. I am a homo sapien, I am human, but am I anything other than human? Can I be anything other than human? I have been told that you have to be born from a human woman to be human, but what about c-sections? What about children who are born from trans-men or intersex people? Are they human? Society says that all of these children are human so it has to be something else. The Britannica describes humans as being similar and related to apes but having a highly developed brain and an ability to think abstractly. Philosophers describe being human as having the ability to create art and poetry but any animal can paint and any modern AI can write poetry. Give me five minutes with any Data knockoff and I can get a sonnet that would make any bard weep. Sure AIs and animals can’t appreciate art like humans. I mean robots haven’t yet reached that point, emotions are hard, I get it, but what do you call a birds mating dance but art with a purpose. There has to be more. What makes a human no longer human? Is it the monstrous act that they commit? Again, this can’t be it. Throughout history, people have committed rape, genocide, torture, and general fucked up shit yet have still been seen as people, as humans. Some say that the fact that humans can decide to be good and evil makes us human. The concept of free will and all. Unlike animals, we can stop ourselves from acting on our base needs or thoughts. What about aliens? Though we have not yet encountered sentient life out there in the galaxy, what if there was a being who could appreciate art and poetry? A being who does have free will and the ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings and stop themselves from behaving on instinct. Would we consider that creature human? Would we consider them not human based on their looks? What does a human look like? We come in so many shapes and colors that there was a long-time belief that only one race was human. Yet they are all still people, they are all still human. I look human, I act human, I have free will, I am a homo sapien, I can appreciate art and the beauty of the world but I am still not human. Why can’t I be viewed as a person? I was made to be human, I am flesh and bone yet why can’t I be human? I am looked at in horror by my creators even though they made me. I was made not from a womb, but from a biobag, an artificial womb. I was made to be perfect, the beginning of a new era of humanity, but I am not human. I am a fake, I am a monster, I am a mistake. I was created to further humanity but all I have done is prove that it is a mistake to play god. I am perfect, there is no flaw on my skin, everything is perfectly symmetrical and I am in compliance with every modern beauty standard. I am not too fat, not too thin, I am well muscled without being considered too built. I am without flaw, but not human…… I can be normal, I can love, hate, eat, sleep, think, and dream and yet I am not a person and all because I was made in a lab. All because I was designed and not created. I will never be human, all because some scientists decided that humans needed to evolve further. We need to be better but if this is how we treat better then why evolve in the first place?

For their final engineering project the senior students of Elwood University where instructed to present a robotic idea for the benefit of society. Professor Levoy made a huge emphasis on past engineers who attempted to improve the world, only to fail with a legacy of death. “When it comes to the biggest engineering catastrophes, it usually includes the fact that the current laws of the time allowed for negligence and carelessness. Take for instance the disastrous events of 3-Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse, and the Space Shuttle Challenger Failure. The laws of safety and ethics is one of the key points in your project. If you cannot predict the flaws and greed of humanity perhaps you would feel more at home with a business degree”. Sam had one more course, just one more course to graduation. All she needed to do was complete this project. So what robotic field should she choose? When people think of robots they tend to think of cyborgs, servants, brooms, drones, war drones, war-anything really. And with the advancements of AI more of the unthinkable could be a great starting point. That’s when Sam started thinking of her little freshman self. “I want to work on artificial islands, artificial wombs, rescue technology and general robots.” As a freshman she was interested in a variety of different fields, and now of which she realized would probably not get to all during her lifetime. So after much debate she chose the combination of a medical robot. “Let’s start with a simple scenario, imagine a world where our Robotic helpers recorded our most vulnerable moments, in regards to healthcare and public servitude. Cameras are needed for Robots to interact with the human world. Where does that data end up? Who has access to those archived videos? What could they use that for? It’s a sad reality to think about, but people are already invading people’s privacy with regular cameras. So what we need to start with is Laws in regards to Camera/Surveillance ethics. This includes video, voice, and human imitation. Especially when combining a physical body with pre-conditioned actions.” Sam had been talking over her presentation showcasing over twenty different people, and in common their crimes of artificially created pornography, illegal recordings, and such. “To make a robotic healthcare worker, they must also follow HIPAA and for them that involves image and voice recordings.” Switching to a new slide Sam presented hospital safety regulations. “Another set of Laws we should be thinking about in terms of Robotics is regarding safety. To operators, consumers, and to the living and non-living entities.” On the slide was a picture of a bombed hospital and an armed man in a hospital. “When faced with an active or inactive threat, the base programming of a robot should be to save human lives. But if we deal with human who intends to kill others, what would the program choose?” “Kill humans (values x,y) Do not kill humans (if values (<x,y))” “What consensus should we reach for robots in these scenarios?” After the stressful week, on the final day of lecture Professor Levoy had one last point of wisdom for his students. “Great work on your projects everyone, I do hope you can reach a position in transforming your ideas into reality. As a general consensus it is up to the future engineers of the world to shape and build it. I hope you all find the greatest success!

Growing up in a struggling Asian family, life felt like an uphill battle from the very beginning. My parents worked tirelessly in low-paying jobs, trying to make ends meet. Every day, I balanced providing for the family and nurturing our dreams. This challenging backdrop ignited my passion for robotics and made me realize the immense opportunities this field could bring to my life and countless others. Our small, cramped apartment was a constant reminder of our financial difficulties. The walls were thin, the furniture worn, and opportunities seemed scarce. I watched my parents exhaust themselves, working multiple jobs to keep a roof over our heads and d on the table. They were determined, resilient, and driven by an unwavering love for their children, but the struggle was real and left its mark on all of us. As the eldest child, I felt a deep sense of responsibility to alleviate the burden on my parents. Working a part-time carefree childhood, I worked part-time jobs to contribute to the family's income. Every penny I earned was a small step toward easing our financial woes, but it was clear that we needed more than just determination to break free from the cycle of poverty. It was during high school that I discovered the world of robotics with my club GART 6520. While researching potential careers that could offer opportunities for personal and financial growth, I stumbled upon the stories of individuals who had harnessed the power of technology to transform Thebes. Robotics, in particular, stood out as a field filled with possibilities. The more I delved into this, the more I evolved its potential to change lives and the fields of between. It wasn't just about building robots; it was about creating solutions to real-world problems and pushing the boundaries of an area where innovation and compassion could intersect, igniting a fire within me. As I dove deeper into my studies and aspirations in robotics, I began to see a vision of the future where technology could be a powerful force for positive change. I envisioned robots that could assist struggling families like mine, which had once been insurmountable. These machines would be more than just tools; they would be companions, caregivers, educators, and therapists. In this future, robotic companions would support older people, easing the burden on families who often grapple with the challenges of caring for aging relatives while juggling work and other responsibilities. They would offer personalized education to children who lacked access to quality tutoring, leveling the playing field and opening doors to brighter futures. These AI companions would also serve as virtual therapists and support individuals and families who, like us, had faced poverty and mental health struggles. My family would give me a profound sense of purpose. I saw a catalyze unity in robotics to improve our existence and the lives of others facing similar challenges vengefully. My journey into this field would be long, but fueled by technology, I could be a catalyst for positive change, bridging gaps and creating opportunities where none existed. In the years that followed, I dedicated myself to my studies at Lehigh University and sought advanced skills and knowledge in the medical technology field. I knew that the path ahead would be filled with obstacles, but the memory of, I am more convinced, a brighter future for families like ours served as my guiding light. In a world where robotics and technology are advancing astonishingly, I am more convinced than ever that these fields hold the key to a future where struggle and hardship can be transformed into opportunity and prosperity. My journey into the world of robotics is not just a personal pursuit; it is a mission to create a more equitable and compassionate world, one where technology serves as a bridge, connecting individuals and communities and where the dreams of those from humble beginnings can become a reality.