Daily Planet—The Invention & Technology Series

Gr 9 Up—In news program format, segments focus on how robots are being developed for the military, medical uses, search and rescue, law enforcement, and exploration, and more. Producing a driverless car that can maneuver around objects and various geographies and reach its destination after traveling 60 miles makes for an exciting competition, but the ultimate goal of these vehicles is their implications for developing drone weapons that keep human soldiers out of harm's way. This is just one way that robots are being employed. Interviews with scientists and technicians who are developing these smart machines and demonstrations of them in action make for an informative and captivating look at how robots are being used to save lives and convey information. In one hospital, an R2D2 type machine visits patients, allowing them to view and converse with their doctor speaking from his desk as he shows them images relating to their case. Robots created for search and rescue can go where it's not safe for humans to locate survivors and assess rescue options. An animated mechanical moose is deployed to catch poachers and protect endangered species. Perhaps the most astonishing development in robot science is in machines that are built to "heal" themselves when damaged. The film not only features successes, but also illustrates the process of testing and refining that occurs. The only criticism of this fine production is that some information is dated because it was produced four years ago.—Constance Dickerson, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH