Historical perspectives of robotics

When was the first actual robot invented and used ?
The first robot was invented in 1938 by Americans Willard Pollard and Harold Roselund for the DeVilbiss Company as it was a paint-spraying mechanism.



What was the name of the book Asimov wrote in 1942 in which he described the Laws of Robotics?
In 1942 Asimov wrote a book called the Runaround which described the laws of robotics.

What is the so-called "Zeroth Law of Robotics? Why is it called the Zeroth Law?
Asmiov introduced the Zeroth Law of robotics which states:
A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
It is referred to as the Zeroth Law as it continues the pattern of lower numbered laws superseding in importance the higher numbered laws.

Propose one situation where it would be OK for a robot to harm (even kill) a human. Explain why it be OK in this circumstance.
It is the ancient old debate of euthenasia, whether it is acceptable or not?
There are circumstances where euthenasia could be considered acceptable, such as in a hospital where a person cannot express their desire to no longer live in their condition. It is in this circumstance where it would be okay for a robot to accompany in the process of harming/killing a human.

References:
Ware P, Cooke P, Opfer D, Wall J. (2005), Information and Software Technology 7-10, Jacarnada: Milton, QLDWordnet, Cognitive Science Laboratory: Princeton University retrieved 22 December 2006 from http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=robotics