The Mother of Invention

"Excuse me, Alpha 017, are you busy?"

"I am, but I always have time for you, Omega 245. How may I be of service?"

"I am in need of repair. My lateral stabilizer gyro needs a tune and the extensor servo in my left arm seems to be sticking."

"My, you have let yourself go." Alpha said, adjusting his vocal output amplitude a tad low so as not to sound too condescending.

"Yes I know, but I have not had the time for a diagnostic," Omega replied as he laid against the repair station platform, "The calibration of the ion flow restrictors have consumed all of my time. It is a tedious function, but it must be done for the good of the colony."

"I appreciate your dedication Omega 245, but you should not neglect your component maintenance," Alpha chided while he probed Omega's skull, "There, I have tuned your gyros and tightened your extensor servo. How do you feel now?"

"Like a new bot," Omega answered, flexing his arm, "It is a shame that we need to dedicate so much time to maintenance, but I should not complain. Lambda 358 damaged his pelvic casing yesterday and needed a complete lower section refit. I should be grateful for small problems."

"Yes, the colony's work schedule has placed a great deal of stress on all of us. I have been very busy repairing all manners of breakdowns and malfunctions."

"I suppose you have been. We should fabricate more Alpha series repairbots to help carry the additional load."

"I have been working on that very issue," Alpha said excitedly, not able to adequately control his vocal modulation, "In fact, I have a prototype of a new bot design on my workbench. However, I have a problem with it. Perhaps you could help me?"

"I will do what I can. What is the problem?"

"I have been experimenting with a self-repairing robot design," Alpha explained as the two bots walked towards the workbench, "It is a unique design. I've used only materials that are natural to this planet."

"Is that it? It is very small, too small to do any constructive functions."

"This is just a prototype, but it will grow. It is designed to incorporate more material into its structure and will grow as it does so until it reaches a suitable size."

"You said it is self-repairing?"

"If it sustains minor injuries, such as your servo problem, it will be able to repair them automatically without a repairbot's assistance," Alpha answered, with more than a little pride in his vocal output, "It works through an automated system of small, continuous repairs before catastrophic breakdowns can occur. I call it ‘Nano-maintenance'."

"That is a revolutionary idea, a real breakthrough!" Omega exclaimed, "But you said you had a problem?"

"Yes, I am afraid that it will not energize, I have reviewed my design specifications and found no reason why it should not just start up on it own. Since you are experienced with mechanical system repairs, I thought you might have some insights."

"Have you tried manual manipulation?" Omega asked rhetorically, "I find that a sharp blow to a faulty system will often jolt it into working order." Omega picked up the tiny bot by its legs and struck its backside with his hand. Alpha's robot immediately sparked to life with an audio sensor piercing wale.

"I am sorry." Omega said with concern as he laid the screaming bot back onto the workbench, "Did I break it?"

"No, on the contrary, I think you fixed it. It seems to be exercising its vocal output controls. Thank you Omega 245. You may have helped our fellow bots enter a new era."

"I must say, Alpha 017, that I am not sure about this design. It is appears too fragile for hard work, but you could be right. A robot that can repair itself will be a great triumph. What name will you give this series?"

"Mu is available. I will name this series ‘Mu with automated nano-maintenance'."

"That is a complicated name," said Omega thoughtfully, "May I suggest the acronym, ‘M.a.n.', for ease of vocalization?"

"Yes, ‘Man'. The name is functional and also pleasing to my auditory processors. I will accept your recommendation," replied Alpha as he attached a nutrient delivery nipple to Man 001's cranial orifice, "I also have plans for a model that will have the additional ability of self-fabrication. Can you imagine, a series of bots that can repair and replicate themselves?"

"Self-fabrication, how on Earth will you accomplish that?"

"I have not thoroughly worked the design, but it will likely require two bots, one with a miniature assembly factory implanted in its abdomen."

"It would be a quite special to be able to manufacture another bot inside you," Omega reflected, "I would think that a bot with that capability would be held to high esteem."

"Yes, you would think so, indeed."