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In 1958, the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) Thermatool Corporation (later known as AMF Corporation, later acquired by Prab Company of Michigan)  initiated an R&D project for a Versatile Transfer Machine, or VERSATRAN, a programmable cylindrical coordinate frame robotic arm designed by Harry Johnson and Veljko Milenkovic. AMF introduced Model 102, a continuous-path transfer device, and Model 212, a point-to-point transfer device, in 1962. 

AUTOMATIC HANDLING EQUIPMENT CALLED 'VERSATRAN'.

3243.02 | AUTOMATIC HANDLING EQUIPMENT CALLED 'VERSATRAN'. (1:02:10:00 – 1:05:52:00) 1967
Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Date found in the old record – 23/02/1967.

Various shots of the 'Versatran' – an artificial arm and a hand construction grab which is controlled from large panels. Developed in the USA by American Machine & Foundry Company. The grab is seen picking up a large bobbin and placing it in a box. The control panel can be programmed in advance so the grab can be operated in advance. Demonstration by Mr D C Hall.

It was only in 1967 that the Tokyo Machinery Trading Co. in  Japan imports and sells the first industrial robot, a Versatran from AMF, Inc.  Britain aquires its first Industrial Robot, a Versatran, in 1967, by Douglas Hall, as seen in the video clip above.  

RISE OF THE ROBOTS by George Sullivan 1971

A second industrial robot arrived upon the scene in 1963. Manufactured by a division of AMF Thermatool, Inc., this robot is called the Versatran ( from versatile transfer ). It is characterized by a sturdy horizontal arm coupled to a six-foot vertical steel column which is mounted on a rectangular base.
Although they [Unimate] are different in appearance, the Versatran robot and the Unimate have many similarities. Both can handle objects weighing over 150 pounds. Both are built to last for forty thousand working hours. They sell for about the same price, approximately $25,000 [1971].

Industrial Robots at Work
Industrial robots do work of every imaginable type. They spray-paint automobile engines and spot-weld auto bodies. They stack brick and pluck hot parts from presses and die-casting machines.
What the robot does depends on its program. With the Versatran robot, there are two types of program controls. One is called point-to-point control and is the type used for relatively simple jobs. The other, for more complex tasks, is called continuous-path program control.
When programming a point-to-point control operation, the arm movements and functions to be performed are first drawn on a piece of paper. Then this sequence of "orders" is translated into electronic signals. Short lengths of metal-tipped wires, known as "patch cords," are inserted into the holes of a small, black pegboard, called a "patchboard," to correspond to the written orders.
The programmed patchboard locks into the robot's console panel. The board's contacts connect with memory-storing and command devices known as "potentiometers." Once the potentiometers have been adjusted for the various arm positions in the cycle, the machine is ready to operate. The robot user may own several patchboards, each programmed for a different job.
Programming the Versatran robot for "continuous path" operation is a matter of "teaching" the machine the proper motions to follow. A switch in the console is set for "program." The operator then leads the robot arm through all the motions it will later assume on its own. Gripper commands are also acted out. These signals are automatically recorded on magnetic tapes within the control console. There are fifteen minutes of program time available on each of the two reels of tape the console contains.
The Unimate is programmed in similar fashion—by moving the robot arm through the desired sequence of operation. The sequence registers in the machine's memory unit. Once the robot arm has been "taught" a program, it will follow the prescribed set of operations over and over.
"There's no mystery to programming," says one user. "It doesn't even require a mechanical background, much less a knowledge of electronics."
The job the robot is programmed to do may involve several individual tasks.

See Harry Johnson and Veljko Milenkovic related US patents US3212649, US3241020 and US3298006.

See Milenkovic tribute and mention of Versatran development here.

VERSATRAN robot in the 1971 movie "Silent Running"

The "billiard's" playing robot is actually an AMF Versatran industrial robot.

Regarding "Silent Running", for a 1972 movie, the Versatran was still considered a state-of-the-art industrial robot.

Two interchangeable end-effectors are shown, a gripper for loading/depositing billiard balls, and a pneumatic "cue" to strike the ball (below). The standard two-fingered Versatran gripper picks up a B.A.S.E.(tm) 3-fingered gripped to deposit the balls. Another small continuity error in that when picking up the B.A.S.E.(tm) gripper, the 2 pneumatic lines are not attached, but then magically appear in the next shot (see above).  Also in the above image is the AMF Versatran name/logo, as well as the controller on the left. 

The control panel in the background is a real and actual point-to-point Versatran control panel,  used to program the various movie sequences. Although portrayed as "thinking for itself" , this robot would have to be choreographed and programmed via the point-to-point controller.

Mary Locke getting what robots like to give.

Patent Information:

MECHANISM FOR REMOTE MANIPULATION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS Anthony J. Kaye et al
See full patent details here. 
Patent number: 3173555
Filing date: Sep 7, 1962
Issue date: Mar 16, 1965

This invention relates generally to mechanism for positioning or otherwise manipulating objects, tools and the like in industrial operations, including programmed industrial manipulators. In a preferred form, it comprises mechanism affording duplication of the human arm's manipulative skill in placing physical objects in an infinite number of attitudes •and positions in a three dimensional space and operated and controlled by memory or program devices with which the desired movements of the mechanism may be recorded and then subsequently employed to cause the mechanism to repeat the record movements.
Mechanisms have been devised in the past which simulate certain movements of the human arm and hand, commonly known as remotely controlled handling equipment, programmed manipulators and the like, operating to duplicate the manipulative skill of the human arm in its ability to grasp, rotate, locate, and otherwise manipulate objects and to do this under the constant control of a remotely located person or suitably designed mechanical, electrical or similar memory or programming medium.
It is an object of this invention to apply a new principle to such art of manipulating objects in space, namely the use of one or more mechanical members acting as tension or compression vectors to guide or restrain the lateral movements of an object carrying member, thus enabling the latter member to position an object in space.
Another object is of embody this new principle in a flexible member or arm, guided and restrained by one or more adjustable such vector members, or "tendons," to precisely move one end of the flexible member and an object carried thereby from point to point in space limited only by the size and range of the equipment.
It is a further object of this invention to apply this new principle to a flexible arm which carries a gripping hand and for which a plurality of hand types are provided with the gripping hands being readily interchangeable.
Another object is the provision of such a mechanism operated by 'a single motor unit for achieving three dimensional positioning, as in the assembly of the multiple parts of a product.
Another object is to provide an object handling unit employing this new principle and including mechanisms by which the desired movements of the equipment can be retained and through which the equipment can subsequently automatically, accurately and continually repeat the desired movements.
Other objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the following specification and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which describe and illustrate certain embodiments of the invention.

Mr. Sparks with his four brothers before Goro was born.

An earlier picture of Mr. Spark with his brothers.

Mr. Spark (2nd from left) with his brothers in the Nagoya Robot Museum.

The Robot Museum closed 31 September, 2007.

Mr Spark awaiting a full restoration at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan.

See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .

Goro, meaning the 'fifth' brother, was 'born' in 1962. Of all the Aizawa large robots, Goro was the first to be popularised by the Western press.

During the recent restoration of Aizawa's robots, another robot, incorrectly I believe, is now being called Goro.

Source: Popular Mechanics, Feb 1965 p 131. Aizawa incorrectly called Sagami. Note also the row of lamps around his waist not seen in other photos. Light/dark colour scheme is slightly different, particularly around the feet, and the antennae shape is difficult to identify as the same. Possibly this is a variant or an upgrade.

The above caption suggests that Goro was born in 1961, all other dates give 1962, although most press dates are from 1964.

Source: Weirton Daily Times 28 04 1964 p12

Caption upper left: How's this for service? Junior goes for ride with Goro providing power for perambulator.

Caption centre: Youngsters at a kindergarten in Hoyamachi, a suburb of Tokyo, smilingly surround Goro as his owner puts him through paces.

Caption centre right: Goro was "born" in October, 1962. His inventor now has designs on drawing board for robot that will respond to whistle signals.

Caption upper right: Inventor Jiro Aizawa adjusts control mechanism In Goro. An assistant flicks a switch on transmitter to send a signal.

Caption lower centre: Walking along a street In Hoyamachi, Japan, Goro escorts two of his charges. He is controlled by radio signals sent by hand transmitter.

Caption lower right: Goro, the robot, comes front a fair-sized family. Hero are three of his five complicated brothers.

Caption lower left: Toting a shopping basket, Goro picks up some items at a store. He receives orders via shoulder aerials. His head has a radar screen.

Source: Weirton Daily Times 28 04 1964 p12

Electronic Baby-Sitter
Keeping an Eye on Junior a Cinch With This Redoubtable Robot
HAVING a tough time keeping your eye on Junior? Is he always getting into your cabinet under the kitchen sink? Messing things up the instant your back is turned?
Well, you can solve your problem electronically these days if you wish. All you need is $8,310 –plus shipping charges, Inventor Jiro Aizawa, 60, of Hoyamachi, Japan, has the answer to a harassed housewife's prayer and his name is Goro and that's what it cost to make him.
The latter, a highly developed robot, has a firm grip on things—a steely grasp of the situation at hand that would keep Junior in hand at all times. The way-out electronic baby-sitter could increase a parent's range of discipline considerably, for it is controlled by radio waves as far off as 300 yards.
On command, Goro can walk forward and backward, turn around, go shopping (that should make a big hit with Mother, too, on super-market days), and talk through a built-in radio. He weighs a formidable 271 pounds.
All in all, Junior had better mend his manners. Any day now his ingenious invenor, who has been working on robots for 32 years, may decide to add spanking to Goro's accomplishments.

DELIGHTS CHILDREN – Source unknown – but 1964.

Robot Built By Institute Seeking New Toy Ideas
TOKYO (UPI)—A Japanese Inventor has come up with a toy robot that's bigger than life.
And scarier. The robot is run by radio from a distance of up to 300 yards. But despite aerials on his shoulders, a radar screen on his head, electrode buttons on his back and volt and ampere meters on his vest, he doesn't frighten children away. They love holding his hand despite his iron grip.
The robot's name is Goro, which means "fifth child" in  Japanese. Goro has four older brothers and one younger, all brought into the world by a 60 year-old inventor, Jiro Aizawa.
Goro stands five feet five and weighs 271 pounds. He can walk forward and backward, turn around, do his own shopping, talk through a built-in radio and even wink at the girls—or at least blink.
He has yet to carry bags for passengers at Tokyo Internatíonal Airport, a feat accomplished by one of his brothers. The only thing Japanese about Goro is that he does not shake hands when meeting friends; he bows.
The main problem in building Goro, his inventor says, was to find a way to keep him upright. The problem was solved by extra heavy feet, which are nearly 24 inches long.
Goro's inventor has a research institute in Hoyamachi, west of Tokyo, dedicated to the production of new toy ideas. The institute receives an annual subsidy of 50 million yen($138,500).
The Institute provides 280 Japanesee toy manufacturers with designs for toys sold in England, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland and the United States as well as Japan. Aizawa's
next project, now on the drawing boards, is an electronic robot that will respond to whistle signals.
Goro, however, is not for sale probably because it cost $8,310 to build him.

See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .

Thring, at Queen Mary College built a fire-fighting robot in 1962. This robot navigated its way round a "track" using signals from a gyro compass and measuring distance by wheel-rotation. It left the track when it "saw" a fire and extinguished the fire when its "finger" sensed the flame. The idea was to develop a fully automatic night watchman that could travel around a warehouse and look out for a fire. [Source: New Scientist 19 Nov 1981]

A demonstration robot firefighter built in 1962. It followed a track plotted on the table, detecting the track by photocells, and determining its direction by the gyro compass at the back. The distance travelled was determined by counting the revolutions of the back wheels and the drive and steering were by the front wheel which could be rotated by ± 90° from straight. An arm sticking out in front carried a bimetallic switch and there was a photocell detector on a headlight fixed to the front wheel carriage. This carriage oscillated during the steering process and if the photocell caught sight of a flame the robot left its track, homed on the flame, and when the bimetallic switch detected the heat of the flame the robot stopped and brought the fire extinguisher nozzles onto the flame. This first prototype was liable to chase the sun! [Source: Thring - Robots and Telechirs]

In the above image, you can see a drawing of a closed-loop. This represented the route the cart was to follow. It is essentially a line-following robot. The route was ignored once a fire was detected.

VIDEO CLIP

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Enter 83414 in Search Story – press Search, then play clip.

Most references date this robot at 1962, but the film clip is dated December 1961.