I, Robot Audiobook - Ch. 6 - Little Lost Robot - By Isaac Asimov, Read by Garrick Hagon

Описание: Little Lost Robot Audiobook - Ch. 6 - I, Robot - By Isaac Asimov, Read by Garrick Hagon -
Susan Calvin and Peter Bogert fly to an asteroid-based research facility to assist in tracking down a robot known as NS-2-10, or Nestor 10. This robot has hidden himself among a shipment of 62 otherwise identical NS-2 models, but he has a special feature that makes it imperative that he be identified and recovered. This Nestor has not been "impressioned" with the entire First Law of Robotics. While he will not harm humans, he is capable of passively allowing humans to come to harm. This measure was taken because work on the asteroid base involves exposure to potentially harmful radiation. An ordinary robot cannot tolerate the human risk posed by such work and attempts to prevent humans from undertaking it, so a special, more leniently programmed robot was needed. Dr. Calvin is taken aback by this decision and explains that such a change cannot be made without destabilizing the robot in other ways.

The investigation begins. An engineer reveals that, in a moment of annoyance, he recently told Nestor 10 to "go lose [him]self." Nestor-10 appears to have taken the remark as a literal order. Calvin and Bogert first interview the entire group of 63 robots among whom Nestor 10 is hiding, but they get no new information. They decide to conduct a test: the robots are placed with a human being seemingly in danger of being struck by a falling weight. The normal Nestors, but not Nestor 10, are expected to rush to the human's rescue. To Calvin's surprise, however, all 63 robots respond identically. A new test is devised in which the robots are given the impression that they risk electrocution in rushing to save the endangered human. This time, none of the robots move forward. When interviewed, they point out that an electrocuted robot cannot save anyone.

A final test is devised to take advantage of Nestor 10's special knowledge of radiation spectra. The falling weight setup is replicated, but this time the robots are told that a gamma ray field lethal to robots sits between them and the person under the weight. Sixty-two robots, the plan goes, will be unable to tell that this is a lie. Only the modified Nestor will recognize that the radiation field is actually of a harmless wavelength. This time, the test works: 62 robots remain seated, but one stands up and is immediately singled out by Calvin as Nestor 10. He rushes toward Calvin, indignant at having been fooled by a "weak ... slow" human, and grabs at her as if to attack. Suddenly, the robot freezes, inactivated by a sudden pulse of gamma rays created by a quick-thinking engineer. Relieved, Calvin prepares to return to Earth.