1936 – Robot Remote Controlled Train – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)

Aizawa's Remote Controlled Train (Popular Mechanics, Nov, 1936) article was popularised in blog.modernmechanix.com . Sadly, Jiro Aizawa was not named as the inventor in the article. Robot Engine Built in Japan Is Driven by Remote Control Automatic train control is understood to be a feature of a mysterious robot locomotive model built in Japan. Streamlined, but of a …

1936 – The Gyro-Cycle – Hubert Charles Henry Townend (British)

The Gyro-Cycle – A pseudo-pedalling machine. Source: "Mechanical Toys" by Athelstan & Kathleen Spilhaus, 1990 First Meccano Magazine advertisement was in April 1938. A very ingenious scientific toy. Toy was invented by a famous airplane designer in England. Action depends on the well known gyroscopic principle. The front wheel is the gyroscope and drives the …

1936 – “Robie” the Radio-Controlled Robot – Arthur Wilson (American)

Caption: Here is "Robie," the amazing radio controlled mechanical man that can do practically everything but think. He is the brain child of Arthur Wilson of Chicago, Illinois. Modern Mechanix December 1936 Mechanical Wonder Man Is Operated By Radio Control "Robie," a mechanical robot walks, talks, smokes and winks his eyes when electrical impulses are …

1936-37 – B2M – (ROM or V2M) – Vadim Matskevich (Russian)

ROM (or V2M) as it appeared in the 1937 Paris Exhibition. Possibly the first Russian Humanoid Robot ever built. [Note: I haven't quite worked out the Russian <-> English translation of this Robots names as yet.] Retired Lieutenant Colonel Vadim Viktorovich Matskevich turned 82 years old [in 2002] .  As well as writing many children's books on …

1936 – Mechanical Man – Dept. of Labour (American)

Mechanical Man Exhibit    Original caption: the American Negro Exposition, being held in Chicago's Coliseum, is a regular World's Fair for the people of the Negro race, who have crowded the large halls with exhibits on religion, music, sports, science, industry, art, and the stage. Maudelle Bousfield, of Chicago, and Samuel Evans are shown viewing …