Raymond Goertz was an early pioneer in the field of robotics, specifically remote-controlled robots (see telepresence

Telepresence

Telepresence refers to a set of technologies which allow a person to feel as if they were present, to give the appearance of being present, or to have an effect, via telerobotics, at a place other than their true location....

). In 1951, while working for the Atomic Energy Commission

United States Atomic Energy Commission

The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...

 at Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...

 he developed the first master/slave manipulator in order to handle radioactive material.http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_12/b3724010.htm http://www.used-robots.com/history2.htm http://www.thocp.net/reference/robotics/robotics2.htm

In 1985 the American Nuclear Society

American Nuclear Society

The American Nuclear Society is an international, not-for-profit 501 scientific and educational organization with a membership of approximately 11,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and other associate members. Approximately 900 members live outside the United States in 40 countries....

established the Ray Goertz Award to recognize and honor members who have made outstanding contributions to the field of remote technology.http://www.ans.org/honors/va-goertz

he also made a maze solving mouse[the rodent] and it could solve any maze