1961 – “MM7″ Selektor – Claus Scholz (Austrian)
"MM7" on the left, Clause Scholz in the middle and "MM9" on the right.
The MM7 Selektor human machine is the development for which the international scientist Scholz-Nauendorff, nicknamed the "Viennese father of robots", is best known. Designed as a means of studying cybernetic movement the MM7, with its feedback stepping switches and visual receptors, is widely regarded as the predecessor of today's industrial robots. Its inventor later concentrated on artificial thought processes in an attempt to motivate follow-up models to act autonomously.
Cybernetic Machine MM7 Selektor, 1961
Claus Christian Scholz-Nauendorff [1915-1992]
Inv # 21918
MM stands for MaschinenMensch ie MachineMan.
Popular Mechanics 1964 incorrectly calls this robot MM47, it is MM7.
Note: MM47 is a typo, should be MM7.
MM7's younger brother MM9.
See video clip below:
AUSTRIA: INVENTOR SHOWS ROBOT "SERVANTS".
Clip Description:
Story
MR. KLAUS SCHOLZ, A VIENNESE INVENTOR AND ENGINEER, HAS DEVELOPED TWO ELECTRICAL ROBOT "SERVANTS" WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PERFORM VERY EXACTING TASKS.
AS WELL AS ANSWERING THE DOOR AND THE TELEPHONE, THE ROBOTS CAN POUR DRINKS, SHAKE HANDS, HANG UP CLOTHES AND VACUUM CLEAN FLOORS. TO ANSWER THE TELEPHONE, THE ROBOT USES A MINIATURE TAPE RECORDER DEVICE WHICH IS BUILT INTO ITS HEAD.
THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ROBOT ARE CONTROLLED BY COMPLEX INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THE INVENTOR'S WORKSHOP. MR. SCHOLZ HOPES TO DEVELOP HIS MECHANISM EVEN FURTHER SO THAT EVENTUALLY HIS ROBOTS WILL BE VISUALLY ABLE TO RECOGNISE AND REACT ON KNOWN OBJECTS. HE ALSO PLANS TO BUILD A MACHINE WHICH WILL DO ALL HOUSEHOLD CHORES – EVEN THE WASHING-UP.
Reference 2661/64
Can 3734
Source REUTERS
Date original 16 MARCH 1964
Duration 1.49
Technical 16MM/NEG.
16MM/POS.
Subset Reuters TV – RTV Post 1957
Location VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Sound
Colourbw B/W
1. MV FIRST ROBOT AT DOOR 0.05
2. CU "SCHOLZ" NAME PLATE ON OTHER SIDE OF DOOR PAN.. TO ROBOT OPENING DOOR 0.13
3. CU ROBOT MOVES EYES 0.21
4. MV ROBOT CLOSES DOOR 0.27
5. MV KLAUS SCHOLZ AT DESK 0.29
6. CU SCHOLZ AT CONTROLS 0.34
7. MV DITTO 0.36
8. CU VOLTMETER 0.39
9. CU SECOND ROBOT TAKES VISITOR'S HAT 0.51
10. CU FIRST ROBOT 0.53
11. CU SECOND ROBOT 0.59
12. CU SECOND ROBOT'S EYES MOVE 1.04
13. MV FIRST ROBOT WALKS WITH BOTTLE IN HAND 1.11
14. CU FEET MOVING 1.16
15. CU BOTTLE OVER GLASS HELD BY SECOND ROBOT 1.21
16. CU SCHOLZ MANIPULATES CONTROL FOR POURING ACTION 1.25
17. CU BOTTLE TILTS 1.27
18. CU POURS DRINK INTO GLASS 1.36
19. CU SECOND ROBOT RAISES GLASS TOWARDS HEAD 1.44
20. CU FIRST ROBOT 1.49
MM7 as he is today.
In May of 2009 I travelled from Australia to Europe on a pilgrimage to see the old robots the had infuenced and aroused me in my youth. I went to Vienna to see Heinz Zemanek and his many Cybernetic tortoises and Maze solvers. These items are now housed in the Technical Museum of Vienna. Whilst there, I also saw Scholz's MM7, which was unexpected. DI Dr. Otmar Moritsch arranged for my behind the scenes visit. Here is the address of the Museum:
Technisches Museum Wien
medien.welten
Mariahilfer Str. 212
A-1140 Wien
http://tmw.at/
Head and uppder body detail.
It loks as if Scholz has walking and stability problems early on with MM7. The knees were then "frozen" to prevent a bending action, and a metal frame added that also extended the length of the feet and added a steering castor at the rear.
David Buckley (on the right) joined me on my pilgrimage. Peter Schoen, Dr Otmar Moritsch's colleague who went out of his way to ensure our visit was a success, is on the left.
Close-up of the hands.
Detail of the head.
MM7 has no back as such. His exoskeleton body is made of reinforced fibreglass. MM7 was mains operated, not battery powered.