1877 – “Zoe” the Drawing Automaton – John Nevil Maskelyne (British)

My initiial intention with this posting was to show "Zoe" as an example of an  early Anthropomorphic mechanical master-slave manipulator as well as being a drawing machine. What is presented are some images and illustrations of John Nevil Maskelyne's "Zoe", and an operational description of what could be "Zoe", but nevertheless a contemporary suggestion of how a …

1967 – “Arthur” R/C Robot Dragon – Jacques Monestier (French)

Height : 1m (3.2 ft) Electric motor operated Radio remote controlled Sound produced by tape recorder Unique piece Private collection Radio-controlled gilt (gold leaf gilding) resin whisky table with agate tray. Arthur comes and welcomes visitors carrying tumblers and a whisky decanter in its tray while moving its neck, mouth, wings, and claws and making …

1937 – “Professor Arcadius” – Durand & Decamps (French)

Gaston Decamps participated also in the International Exhibition of 1937, creating with his friend Paul Durand, the "Professeur Arcadius" for the Pavilion of the Toy. New Scientist 12th Apr 1962 Another modern automaton, this time a writer, is known as Professor Arcadius. He was built by M M. Durand and Decamps and can write a number …

1962-5 – Hopkins Beast Autonomous Robot Mod II (with Vision) – JHU APL (American)

With Sonar using Zenith television remote control 40kHz audio transducers, and vision using the then new vidicon image tubes. Mod II is actually facing forward, to the front. the boom arm if effectively its right-arm and extends when searching for an AC outlet. The Zenith ultrasonic transducors can be seen both on top and withing the …

1961 – Ferdinand Autonomous Robot Mod I – JHU APL (American)

  JOHNS HOPKINS APL TECHNICAL DIGEST, VOLUME 24, NUMBER 1 (2003) p59 APL has had a distinguished history in decision support and situational awareness. For example, during the 1950s and 1960s, the Laboratory was critically engaged in the development of weapon control systems and the Navy Tactical Data System (NTDS), and performed the first experiments …