a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Early learning machines designed to solve a maze
Maze currently found in Polytechnic Museum of Science and Technology , Moscow. Cybernetic model "Mouse in the maze" (see video clip here) [Thanks Joseba Arruabarrena as the video clip is now on youtube.] One of the first developments in the field of cybernetics in the Soviet Union. Modeling ability to learn the simplest living creature …
Read More “1955-57 – Maze Solver – M. Gavrilova (Ðœ.Ð.Гаврилова) (Russian)”
FRANKEN The original Franken maze solver was designed and built by Bert and Ivan Sutherland. I suspect it was built for Edmund C. Berkeley. Berkeley , it appears, had used the early version as a prototype, and engaged his other associates, namely Bob Jensen, Juli Skalski and Stan Skalski in drawing up a revised document suitable for …
Read More “1953 – “Franken” Maze-Solving Machine – Ivan and Bert Sutherland”
Anthony Deutsch, aged 26, with his maze runner from Oxford University's Institute of Experimental Psychology. The head-lamp on the trolley is turned on, and various photo-electric cells are mounted at strategic points in the maze. Deutsch's Maze runner was considered the most sophisticated at the time. It was capable of transferring its training from one maze …
Read More “1954 – Maze-Solving Machine – J. A. Deutsch (British)”
The above is an excerpt from Cordeshi's book "Discovery of the Artificial". Hugh Bradner was at the Psychology laboratory at the University of Miami, Ohio. His robot learnt by trial and error. The cart was 12 inches long, 6 inches wide with 2 wheels on a front axle. a driving wheel in the middle, and …
Internals showing N-S, E-W carriage, Relays, Uni-selector, motors, amongst other electrical components. See 18 mins 51 secs in for 27 seconds. See 9 mins 16 secs in for 32 seconds. As the 1952 maze solver was recently at the MIT Museum. Picture from Life Magazine 28 July 1952. Top trace is showing the first pass …
Read More “1952 – “Theseus” Maze-Solving Mouse – Claude Shannon (American)”