1994 – Profi Bionic – Fischertechnik (German)

The 6 models one can construct with this set. Source: Profi Instruction pdf here. Box cover. Source: Fischertechnik Online Museum here. The gait pattern for each of the models.   (Google translation from German) The new computing box 'Bionic Robots' builds on the 1994  PROFI  ' I'm walking' set . New in this case is that …

1979 – “Meccanoids” Meccano Kit – (British)

Meccano put out a robot models kit called "Meccanoids" in 1979, with instructions and parts for any of 10 models. See Instruction booklet pdf here. Venusian Desert Bug Sirus Stroller Saturn Dinosaur Martian Mantis Space Skate Lunar Lurcher Mercurian Creeper Uranian Rhino Cosmic Spider Cyborg Robot Comments from some Meccano Men : "Then there are the …

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 …

1978 – “Mechanimals” Illustrations – Murray Tinkelmann (American)

U&lc. Illustrated by Murray Tinkelman, December 1979 I love machinery. I love drawings, photographs and diagrams of machinery, particularly diagrams. They look important, they demand respect, and they inspire confidence. How dare anyone doubt that those dotted lines, those beautiful arrows, and the mystically placed little uppercase letters indicate something of great but obscure significance? …

1952-> Gyro Gearloose Walking Inventions – Carl Barks (American)

"Gyro Gearloose" walking inventions featured here appeared in comics from 1967 owards, I believe. From Wiki: Gyro Gearloose is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic chicken created by Carl Barks for The Walt Disney Company. He is part of the Scrooge McDuck universe, appearing in comic book stories as a friend of Donald Duck, Scrooge and anyone …