1978 – “Chiritori” Remote Control Vacuum Cleaner by Nintendo – Gunpei Yokoi (Japanese)

US Patent Information: Publication number US4306329 A Publication date Dec 22, 1981 Filing date Oct 5, 1979  Inventors Gunpei Yokoi Original Assignee Nintendo Co., Ltd. Self-propelled cleaning device with wireless remote-control Abstract A self-propelled cleaning device with wireless remote control includes a body, a driving device on the body for moving the same rotatably about …

1985 – Tomy Dustbot – (Japanese)

Dustbot ® 5409; SO-G ® was the first purpose-built robot to feature a built-in vacuum cleaner. Dustbot's large eyes flash red and his arms move creating a sweeping action for the broom, while his vacuum functions. He really vacuumes, he picks up small pieces of paper, dust, crumbs, etc. He senses any edge and turns …

1957 – Remote-Controlled Painting Machine – Akira Kanayama (Japanese)

Akira Kanayama’s painting machine from 1957 was a four-wheeled device that Kanayama could remote-control to create paintings approximately 180 by 280 cm. The canvas lay on the floor and the machine dripped and poured paint on the picture pane. The painting machine is an early example of the machine/robot in the role of artist. Kanayama’s …

1968 – “Mechanimals” Walking Models – Masahiro Mori and Ryuichi Tomiya (Japanese)

In this image, from top left, we have the Lunar Inchworm, Giant Inchworm, Crater Crab, Giant Snake, Martian Frog, and Star Squid. Above Images Source: Robots: Fact, Fiction & Prediction, Jasa Reichardt, 1978. Space Mechanimals advertisement in New Scientist , 23 Oct 1980 showing the available models and their model numbers. LUNAR INCHWORM No. 81196 …