96: The Gate at Jabba's Palace
The gate at Jabba’s palace in “Return of the Jedi” talks to droids, or has something inside it that talks to droids. So is it a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
Episodes
Robot or Not?
Jason Snell asks John Siracusa to rule on the meaning of various words and concepts. It’s not just about robots anymore.
Have a question for John? Email robot@theincomparable.com.
Episodes
95: Autonomous Sailboats
They roam the ocean, scanning for important data and relaying their information home. There are no humans on board. Are these lonely sea voyagers robots? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
94: Shardik
The robotic guardian of the Beams. He looks like a bear but has a satellite dish on his head. He’s a thousand years old. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
93: Nintendo R.O.B.
Game controller, robot, or total embarrassment? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
92: Pronunciation
ˈrÅËŒbät or rÅbÉ™t? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
91: Naked Robotic Core
An unadorned iPhone can be a Naked Robotic Core, but is it a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
90: Mechagodzilla
Look who was under the tree! It’s a giant mechanical monster! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
89: Battlebots
Among the fiercest creatures in the machine kingdom are the Battlebots. They’re designed for fighting! But are they really robots, or is that just a clever marketing name? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
88: School Babies and CPR Dummies
High school students carry them around and learn what it’s like to be a parent. Or you learn how to revive them by pressing their chest and breathing into their mouths. But are these learning tools also educational robots? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
87: K5 Mall Robot
It patrols the mall. Sometimes it knocks over small children. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
86: The Hosts of "Westworld"
The HBO series “Westworld” makes us contemplate whether its central characters, the Hosts, are robots or not. (We recorded this episode after the first seven episodes of season one had aired; forgive us if it was revealed later that “To Serve Man” was actually a cookbook.) John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
85: The Bicentennial Man
A robot slowly turns himself human. When does he stop being a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
84: Metal Mario
Sometimes Mario is metallic. Does that make him a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
83: Kayaks
They are boats with paddles. What else are they? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
82: The Borg
Straight out of “Star Trek” come these technological villains. Also, we discuss larger issues including AIs and hive minds. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
81: The Energizer Bunny
It just keeps going, and going, and going…. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
80: Tachikoma and Fuchikoma
Little cute robots from “Ghost in the Shell.” John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
79: SpaceX
Self-guided rockets and drone barges. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
78: Hot Dogs
They’re sure tasty, and it’s meat between bread, but are hot dogs sandwiches? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
77: Daft Punk
They sure look like robots. But who’s under the masks? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
76: Animals in "Blade Runner"
The owl and the snake from “Blade Runner” raise some interesting questions. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
75: Bubo
A little metal owl from “Clash of the Titans.” Crafted by the gods, can he possibly be a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
74: Gort
The robot from “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, plus a long digression into Star Trek androids. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
73: Cartoons
Is all animation “cartoons”? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
72: Robots from "Castle in the Sky" and "The Iron Giant"
Two beloved metal creatures from animation. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
71: RoboCop
That “Robo” prefix is sure interesting, and he’s probably a cop, but… John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
70: The Robots of "Futurama"
Bender, Calculon, and Hedonismbot. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
69: Tron
He fights for the users inside a computer. Can software people be robots? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
68: Canadarm
A fancy “robot arm” from Canada. But when is a robot arm just an arm, and when is it a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
67: Silicone Stingray
Part animal, part machine. But is it a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.