1974 – Remote-Controlled Manipulator Vehicle – KHG (German)

Looking like a military gravedigger or an agricultural battle tank, the KHG Remote-Controlled Manipulator Vehicle was an early West German response to the problems of maintenance and repair in nuclear installations. The Robot That'll Do Anything A new remote controlled robot has been developed in Germany able to do most any job or cope with …

1953 – G.E. “O-Man” Manipulator – (American)

1953 – G.E. "O-Man" Manipulator Source: Popular Science, March 1964. G.E,'s Handyman is seen here mounted under an O-Man. Source: Meccano Magazine, February 1963. Perhaps the world's most powerful mechanical arm was developed several years ago in America. Named "O-Man" (for Overhead-MANipulator), this 15-ton remote-controlled giant makes possible the assembly or dismantling of large machinery …

1965 – G.E. Lifting Boom – Edwin E Ziegler / Ralph Mosher (American)

Source: Popular Mechanics, Aug 1965. Ralph Mosher bending over the Pedipulator. Possibly Ed Ziegler in the background. G.E. Lifting Boom Publication number US3333716 A Publication date Aug 1, 1967 Filing date Dec 28, 1965 Inventor: Edwin E Ziegler Original Assignee Gen Electric ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A material handling device having an extensible lifting boom …

1971 – A computer controlled multi-task powered exoskeleton for paraplegic patients – Jack George Grundmann / Ali Seireg (American)

University of Wisconsin-Madison Mechanical Engineering Professor Ali Seireg achieved worldwide recognition for his work in mechanical and biomedical engineering design. Among his advances, he was first to develop a mathematical model of the entire human musculoskeletal system that could predict the muscle and joint forces and interactions, given a motion input. In the early 1970s, …

1976 – Pneumatic Exoskeleton Prosthesis – Pierre Rabischong (French)

Revolutionizing Techniques of Orthosis and Prosthesis Professor Pierre Rabischong of the Montpellier Propara Centre watches as a female patient and her physical therapist use a machine developed by Professor Rabischong. This machine allows the patient in rehabilitation to maintain her balance while inciting her muscles to move. The system functions according to the master-slave concept. …