a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
"Sparky" the Robot Pup appeared in Dec 1958-Jan 1959 issues of Popular Electronics. Full pdf here Sparky the Robot Pup PE Dec 1958-Jan 1959. HOW IT WORKS When main switch S1 is closed, all relays stay in their unactivated position and power is supplied only to the drive motor (M2) and "eye" lights. The …
Read More “1958 – Sparky the Robot Pup – Gaylord Welker (American)”
A.H. Bruinsma Roboter Schaltungen Orig 1958 German edition, Eng translation 1965. Actually called “Cyber” (pronounced Seeber). These books are Philips publications, and I think Bruinsma worked for Philips. Notes: 1. Anne Hendrik Bruinsma is probably more well known for his work in Radio-control. (I previously thought Anne was a female name, but can be Male in …
Read More “1958 – Cyber the Dog – A.H. Bruinsma (Philips) (Netherlands)”
The model seen here is Dr. Andre (Andrew) John Angyan's first cybernetic model, Machine Reproducatrix, built in Budapest, Hungary. It very much follows the Grey Walter tortoise in terms of construction and function (of CORA – Machina Docilis). His later machines, constructed by Kretz with Zemanek, are the subject of a later post. Image is from …
Read More “1958 – Machina Reproducatrix – Angyan (Hungarian)”
The Cybernetic section of the the Moscow Politechnical museum. You can see "Beta" in the centre. It is quite small in size. The other clear-plastic model was built for the museum and is the subject of another later post. There is a single drive motor, only driving the left-hand side wheel. The …
Read More “1957 – Cybernetic Tortoise “Beta” – Vasilyev and Petrovsky (Russian)”
**Stop Press** – See Daniel Muszka with his Ladybird at the Robots Festival Nov 30-Dec 31 2011 Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, London, SW7 2DD The Science Museum's 'Robots Festival' begins with a five-day 'Roboville' event showcasing the latest in robotic research and development – including emotibots, swimming shark robots, medical robots and autonomous moving robots. During …