a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Humaniform automatons, mechanical men, robots covering late 19th century and the 20th century
Mr. Taro the Camera Robot by Jiro Aizawa. Built in 1969 for Expo'70 held in Osaka. He was located in the Fujipan Pavillion, in partnership with another robot. The above image was from a more recent exhibition catalogue held in Japan, 2010, and shows a more modern digital camera. The Nixie tubes around his waist are no …
Read More “1969 – Mr. Taro the Camera Robot – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)”
Mr. Sparks with his four brothers before Goro was born. An earlier picture of Mr. Spark with his brothers. Mr. Spark (2nd from left) with his brothers in the Nagoya Robot Museum. The Robot Museum closed 31 September, 2007. Mr Spark awaiting a full restoration at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan. See the …
Read More “1962c – Mr. Spark the Robot – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)”
Goro, meaning the 'fifth' brother, was 'born' in 1962. Of all the Aizawa large robots, Goro was the first to be popularised by the Western press. During the recent restoration of Aizawa's robots, another robot, incorrectly I believe, is now being called Goro. Source: Popular Mechanics, Feb 1965 p 131. Aizawa incorrectly called Sagami. Note also …
The first of the 10 brothers by Jiro Aizawa. Aizawa uses the word 'born' to denote when the 'brothers' came into existance. Mr. Ichiro [Ichiro-Kun] was reportedly born in 1959. Mr. Ichiro in the background. Possibly Mr. Fugio [or Mr. Saburo] in the front. Mr. Ichiro on the left, followed by Mr Spark, Mr. Fugio, then …
Read More “1959 – Mr. Ichiro the Robot – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)”
Jiro Aizawa, born 1903, is very significant in terms of Japan's history of robots, toy robots in particular. (also Dr. Aizawa, Uncle Robot, Dr. Robot, Zirou Aizawa, Dr. Aizawa Zirou, and 二郎相澤 in Japanese.) In 1910*1, when in 5th grade, Aizawa saw his first mechanical man in a London exhibition [RH Note that the word robot was not …
Read More “1957- Japanese Humanoid Robots and Toy Robots – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)”