1968c – Cybernetic Mouse – Johan de Boer (Dutch*)

The mouse machine was built around two servo motors. One is underneath the robot and drives the two rear wheels. The second servo, visible in the front part, moves a steering wheel to the left or right. There are three of those old fashioned relays visible on the left, used to activate the servo motors. …

1970-3 – Computer Maze – Johan de Boer (Dutch*)

Johan de Boer's description (from private correspondence 2010) "A second project [ RH: to the Cybernetic Mouse] was the maze where a light was used to indicate the position of an imaginary mouse in the maze. The maze could be changed with small removable barriers. Each square had a small light bulb that would be …

1987-88 – “First-Step” Quadruped Walking Machine – David Buckley (British)

First-Step by David Buckley  September 1987    Four Legged Walking Robot, uses 3-D pantograph arrangement to produce a gravitationally decoupled leg mechanism similar to that used by Shigeo Hirose, A Study of Design and Control of a Quadruped Walking Vehicle, The International Journal of Robotics Research, Vol 3, No. 2, 1984. Won a Silver medal …

1978-9 – PV-II 4-Legged Walking Machine – Hirose & Umetani (Japanese)

Photo.2 Sensor based stair climibing walk of the PV-II. KUMO-I (1976, see here), PV-II (1978-1979, Photo. 2). The method of locomotion called “walking” requires considerably more actuators than the wheel me thod of locomotion, the drive system is heavy; and it is not simple to control. However, walking machines, because they can move while separately …

1976 – KUMO-I 4-Legged Walking Machine – Hirose & Umetani (Japanese)

Research on Quadruped Walking Machines     KUMO-I (1976, see photo above), PV-II (1978-1979, see here). The method of locomotion called "walking" requires considerably more actuators than the wheel me thod of locomotion, the drive system is heavy; and it is not simple to control. However, walking machines, because they can move while separately selecting the point …