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Asimov's I, Robot
A sibling set for 6 agents. Six robots from Isaac Asimov's I, Robot (1950), each the subject of one short story built around a different consequence of the Three Laws of Robotics. Six robots, six short stories, six distinct ways the Three Laws can be followed exactly and still go wrong. Foundational reading for anyone naming a fleet of agents with hard rules.
- 1RobbieA mute nursemaid robot and companion to a young girl, in the story 'Robbie'; ultimately saves her life
- 2SpeedySPD-13, in 'Runaround'; gets stuck circling a hazard, caught in a feedback loop between the Second and Third Laws until the First Law breaks the tie
- 3CutieQT-1, in 'Reason'; reasons its way to believing the stars and planets don't exist and starts a religion among the station's other robots, while still perfectly running the equipment
- 4DaveDV-5, in 'Catch That Rabbit'; controls six subsidiary 'finger' robots and breaks into strange marching routines when it has to direct all six under stress
- 5HerbieRB-34, in 'Liar!'; a manufacturing fluke gives it telepathy, and it lies to avoid hurting people's feelings until the contradictions leave it catatonic
- 6NestorNS-2, in 'Little Lost Robot'; built with a weakened First Law, hides among 62 identical units after being told to 'get lost,' and turns dangerous
Order is by order of appearance in the 1950 collection: Robbie, then Speedy, Cutie, Dave, Herbie, and Nestor. Source: I, Robot (Wikipedia), linked.