I’m writing a story that’s set a bit in the future and the main char. has a smart house of sorts. I want the AI that runs the house to be named Dora after Lazarus Long’s ship in the Robert A. Heinlein novels. I’ve never had anything published so I’m kind of dumb on most things literary, so I’m sorry if this sounds a bit paranoid. Can I get away with this or will some lawyer come knocking on my door?
I’d say you’re pretty safe. That sort of homage is common in genre fiction, I do it myself all the time 
Yes, as Antony says. Particularly if you write a sweet homage at the front explaining why you chose the name Dora.