by Andrew Moseman Robots have a way of inspiring far-out science fiction–inspired thought experiments. Can a robot perform heart surgery? What are robot dogs even for? Should we be afraid of a dystopian AI future like the one featured in the Terminator movies? Aaron Ames, Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Control and Dynamical Systems, and Aerospace, loves these future-facing questions. And as the leadership chair and director of Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Tech