a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Early learning machines designed to solve a maze
Source: Xenia Daily Gazette Mon, May 24, 1971 Computerized mouse maze first of 3 long-term projects for Xenian. by Ward Pimley – Gazette staff writer To a research psychologist, running a mouse through a maze to investigate behavior patterns is a common occurrence. But to an electronic engineering drawing specialist who wants to simulate the …
Read More “1971 – Model 2004 Maze-Solving Computer – Richard Browne (American)”
Johan de Boer's description (from private correspondence 2010) "A second project [ RH: to the Cybernetic Mouse] was the maze where a light was used to indicate the position of an imaginary mouse in the maze. The maze could be changed with small removable barriers. Each square had a small light bulb that would be …
See Quester details and other references in David Buckley's website here. Quester was originally designed to be a micromouse maze solver, and later converted into a general purpose robot with added gripper (see above). David also has a reference to the history of Micromouse competitions here. For the original Micromouse competition, "The Amazing MicroMouse Maze …
Read More “1981 – Quester Micromouse – David Buckley (British)”
"Moonlight Special" Photo at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories Top – "Moonlight Special" , Middle- "Moonlight Flash" , Bottom Right – "Midnight Express" all in full dress. In 1977, Machine Design sponsored yet another mouse contest, "The great Clock Climbing Contest", coupled with the rediscovered information of the 1972 "Le Mouse 5000" contest that spurred on …
Read More “1977-79 – “Moonlight Special” Battelle Inst. (American)”
Oakland Tribune 22 Aug 1957 Lauren V. Merritt, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Merritt of El Cerrito, was concerned. "Gizzmo is acting up," he said. "Gizzmo" is a maze-solving robot. Push a button anywhere and a light bounces through a ?complicated maze? and "Gizzmo" remembers the way out. Merritt is a student of …
Read More “1957 – “Gizzmo” Maze-solving Robot – Lauren V. Merritt (American)”