a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Humaniform automatons, mechanical men, robots covering late 19th century and the 20th century
Colour photo of Elektro at the 1939-40 World's Fair held in New York. ELEKTRO- "the Moto-Man This 260-lb. mechanical man at the New York World's Fair 1939 walks, talks, smokes, and selects colors! His anatomy includes an "electric eye," 48 relays, 11 motors, a microphone, grid-glow tube, and amplifiers. THIS mighty automaton …
The Budapest Robot at the International Fair 1937. Above image source: Robots: Facts, Fiction and Prediction. I haven't been able to find any relevant text to this robot, but it appears to be able to detect an audience (via photo-electric cells in its eyes?), stand using motors in the base guided by the geometry of …
Mechanical Man Exhibit Original caption: the American Negro Exposition, being held in Chicago's Coliseum, is a regular World's Fair for the people of the Negro race, who have crowded the large halls with exhibits on religion, music, sports, science, industry, art, and the stage. Maudelle Bousfield, of Chicago, and Samuel Evans are shown viewing …
Read More “1936 – Mechanical Man – Dept. of Labour (American)”
I have very little information on Anthrophor. The images are an extract from a Hungarian patent 118554. It appears to be tele-operated. An early Hungarian patent on a robot by Dr. János Gács The 118,544 Hungarian Patent was filed on 10th December 1936, by Ferenc Okolicsányi. It was based on a German application filed on …
Read More “1935 – “Anthrophor” – Dr. Okolicsanyi Ferenc (Hungarian)”
Popular Science June 1934 TALKING ROBOT SALUTES VISITORS Mechanical man salutes and speaks to visitors at Franklin Institute. Phonograph record that gives robot its voice and mechanism that causes action. SPOKEN messages of welcome. accompained by a snappy salute, startle visitors to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Pa., where a mechanical man nick-named "Egbert" has …