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Programmed Article Transfer by George C. Devol Jr. See full patent details here.

Patent number: 2988237
Filing date: Dec 10, 1954
Issue date: Jun 13, 1961

Joseph Engelberger on the left, George Devol Jr on the right – c1960

[Image credit: The Estate of George C. Devol]

In the patent, Devol wrote, "the present invention makes available for the first time a more or less general purpose machine that has universal application to a vast diversity of applications where cyclic digital control is desired."

Devol's patent for the first digitally operated programmable robotic arm represents the foundation of the modern robotics industry.

At the suggestion of Devol's wife, Evelyn, the word "Unimate" was coined to define the product. 

In 1960, Devol personally sold the first Unimate robot, which was shipped in 1961 from Danbury, Connecticut to General Motors.

See the rest of the story in my later post on "UNIMATE" [TBC].

Another early patent that looks surprisingly modern was granted for a robot called 'Improvements in or relating to Positioning or Manipulating Apparatus' invented by Cyril W. Kenward. The British patent was filed March 29, 1954 and was published August 21, 1957, and preceded George Devol's first robot patent by several months. It is an interesting parallel that Britain, birthplace of the machine tool industry, would also pioneer the idea of robotics.
Hydraulically powered, this dual arm, gantry mounted robot was years ahead of its time. The patent even speaks of robot self-replication. Featuring detachable grippers and gantry mounting, it could well be used as an illustration for a current research contract proposal. Another key feature of this design was complete internal porting of hydraulics and internal wiring, problems that went unaddressed in early hydraulic robots and often is not achieved in modern day hydraulic robots. Figure above shows the six-axes, hydraulically powered arm in cross section.

Text source: Robot Evolution: The Development of Anthrobotics By Mark E. Rosheim, 1994

Interesting that some comments made around this patent is that it was not successful.  It should be noted that the patent was only a British patent, and not filed in the US or other countries. When the "Versatran" and "Unimate" robots were to be imported into the UK in 1967, these clearly infringed the Kenward patent. It was reported at the time that this matter was resolved by a "cash payment". Further, the author of the article, Douglas Hall, adds "It did, however, illustrate how people in britain often have good ideas for inventions but then have to sit on the sidelines as noone is prepared to back them".

Source: Popular Mechanics, April 1970.

1- SQUARE WHEELS WORK BETTER than round ones in this system for use on rough terrain- The sharp-cornered treads dig in on snow, mud, sand or steep grades, providing increased traction for trucks, tanks and other military vehicles. At the same time, ingenious self-leveling geometry provides a smooth ride on even surfaces. Each wheel is driven by a pinion gear engaging a star-shoped ring gear. 
Mounted on a floating axle, the wheel automatically rides upward os the corners approach the ground and downward as the flat segments come around. This produces the effect of a round wheel with all parts of the tread equidistant to the ground, thus permitting the use of high speeds on a level terrain.

Patent number: 2786540
Filing date: May 13, 1954
Issue date: Mar 26, 1957
See full patent details here.

See all Walking Wheels and Walking Machines listed here.

Gas-powered Elephant to give Children Rides

San Antonio Light 4 Nov 1954

Robo, the monstrous robot elephant owned by the Ezell drive-in theaters is scheduled for a 1-week stay at the Fredericksburg rd. drive-in beginning Friday. The realistic elephant will also be exhibited at Handy-Andy shopping centers during the day and will give the kiddies rides before showtime each night at the drive-in theater.

Robo is 9 feet high and 12 1/2 feet long, weighs 2500 pounds, and is powered by a 4-cylinder 10-horsepower gasoline motor. He was imported from England.

Robo can do almost anything a little elephant can do. His head and trunk move from side to side with the swing of his body as he walks along. About the only difference between Robo and a live elephant is that he burns gasoline instead of eating hay.

Handy-Andy stores No. 7 at 2716 Fredericksburg. No. 11 at Hildebrand and San Pedro, No. 5 at Woodlawn and Fredericksburg and No. 2 at Cincinnati and Bandera will exhibit the mechanical marvel during the week and also will offer free rides to the children.

"Robo", the mechanical elephant was most likely purchased or leased from Wendelken, despite claims it was imported directly from England by Ezell's.

Caption: Film Industry Women Form National Ass'n. A real Texan welcome was given visiting WOMPI's as they arrived in Dallas for the first National Convention. The photo shows the mechanical elephant which the Ezell circuit sent to the train station Saturday morning (18) with models from Interstate's State Fair exhibit.

(Source: Box Office 25 August 1954)

In September 1954, supposedly a new Frank Stuart elephant is shipped to Winkler Drive-in, Houston (US) from Essex, England. (Source: Billboard 4 Sept 1954)

Claude Ezell was the daddy of the Texas drive-in. He was an old carny. He had drive-ins in Fort Worth, Dallas, Waco, Corpus Christi and Houston. Also referred to as CC Ezell, and Claude Ezell & Associates.

(Source: Nevada State Journal 6 Aug 1954)

(Source: Billboard 27 November 1954)

GYRO The Robot was created for a children's show on WICC-TV Channel 43. He was designed and built by the Art Director of WICC-TV Morgan Kaolian in 1954. GYRO joined TRIXIE THE CLOWN on the children's show. Trixie (Dick Chalmers) did tricks while GYRO drew pictures about outer space and sang with the kids. Source- see  here for more info.