a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Life Magazine 28 May 1956 p 125. The disembodied device graciously helping the girl with her coat (above) is one of the most dexterous robots yet designed. Its arms have elbows that bend, wrists that swivel and three-clawed hands. Still being perfected by G.E., it is an electro-mechanical slave called the Yes Man which does …
Read More “1956 – GE Yes-Man Teleoperator – Ralph Mosher (American)”
This demonstration model was remotely controlled by means of flexible cables: the operator used one limb to control each leg. The British firm W. H. Allen & Company, with A. C. Hutchinson and F. S. Smith, designed the first military related walking machine in 1940. The proposed armoured fighting machine in a partly engineered state. …
Read More “1940 – Walking SuperTank – Hutchinson and Smith (British)”
There are at least two variations of the walking machines attributed to Prof. Joseph E. Shigley, then from the University of Michigan. The first relates to the pantograph leg with some descriptions suggesting up to 16 legs were to be used – 4 gangs of 4 legs so a leg was on the ground at any …
Read More “1957-60 – Walking Machine(s) – Joseph Shigley (American)”
One of the few photographs we see of Hardiman I. I’d have a smile like that on my face too if I had one of these. Hardiman is a name derived somehow, from “Human Augmentation Research and Development Investigation.” and Man from MANipulator. Sometimes written as HardiMan, Hardi-Man, Hardi Man, Hardiman I. Said to also …
Read More “1965-71 – G.E. Hardiman I Exoskeleton – Ralph Mosher (American)”
The below video clip was recently placed on Youtube by Neil Mizen's son. The person in the video and in the below pics is Ronald J. Patterson, a technician from Cornell Aeronautical Labs at the time. ll Note: The description above incorrectly describes the exoskeleton as having motors. Unfortunately Cornell never got to the powered stage. …
Read More “1961-2 – Cornell Aeronautical Labs Man-Amplifier – Neil Mizen (American)”