a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Meccano model of GE's Walking Truck designed by Hugh Henry. All legs are completely rotatable in the same direction. For a complete set of images see the NZ Meccano web site here. Thanks Antonio Gual for encouraging Tony Brown (the author of the Modelplan) who found some pictures of Hugh Henry's original. (Has anyone built …
Source: Meccano Magazine, March 1965 …Since then, we have featured examples of his skill at fairly regular intervals in the M.M., one model which I personally remember very well being a Walking Horse and Chariot which was described in a 1965 issue. In fact, Mr. Konkoly himself said of this model recently, "Although I later …
Read More “1965 – Meccano Walking Horse and Chariot – Andreas Konkoly (Hungarian)”
Mechanical Men and Robot Models from various Meccano Instruction Manuals. 1931 Mechanical Man AMONG the many mechanical marvels that scientists tell us will be common sights in the year 2031 A.D., none can be of greater interest than the " robots " or mechanical men which, we are assured, wilt be used to perform almost …
Read More “Early Meccano Robot Models – Frank Hornby et al (British)”
The Walking Gyro was conceived and built by John Jameson in 1981. Article Source: Robotics Age, January 1985. THE WALKING GYRO John W Jameson 275 E. O'Keefe #7 Palo Alto, CA 94303 Walking machines generally fall into one of two categories: statically balanced or dynamically balanced. A statically balanced machine maintains stability at every position …
Read More “1981 – The Walking Gyro – John W. Jameson (American)”
A gyroscopic toy, that imparts a walking motion via a reciprocating crank, driven via a worm off the flywheel shaft. The bottom part is interchangeable so that the pedaling unicycle can be replaced by walking stilts, or a leg arrangement for tight-rope walking. Patent number: 2588040 – see full patent details here. Filing date: Apr …
Read More “1950 – Toy Unicycle Pedaling Clown – Wilfredo Perez (American)”