1877 – “Zoe” the Drawing Automaton – John Nevil Maskelyne (British)

My initiial intention with this posting was to show "Zoe" as an example of an  early Anthropomorphic mechanical master-slave manipulator as well as being a drawing machine. What is presented are some images and illustrations of John Nevil Maskelyne's "Zoe", and an operational description of what could be "Zoe", but nevertheless a contemporary suggestion of how a …

1929 – Writing Robot – (American? / German?)

Modern Mechanix Nov, 1931 Video Lady Robot Used to Write Window Display Advertising IN THIS mechanical age machinery is being substituted for human beings in every possible and conceivable situation. One of the latest and most unique pieces of machinery to be put to use to supplant human agency is the almost human advertising contrivance, …

1942 – Waldo, Waldoes and Master Exoskeletons

Selective Timeline 1942 Robert Heinlein – Waldo 1943 – Deaton Puppet Animating Harness Patent 1948 GE Master-Slave Manipulator – John Payne 1948 Ray Goertz Master-Slave Manipulator 1953 Harvey Chapman – Garco 1954 Ray Goertz Electric Servo-Manipulator 1956 GE Yes Man – Exoskeleton Manipulator 1963 Science & Mechanics – "Waldo" as master-slave manipulators 1963 Rogers et …

1978 – Jogging Machine – Shulman (American)

Jogging Machine Invented, Awaits Market . Daytona Beach Morning Journal – Dec 15, 1978  HYDE PARK. NY – Burt Shulman gently touched the throttle of the little machine strapped to his back. Suddenly he wasn't Burt Shulman at all, but Mercury about to become Icarus, a quiet mechanical engineer who was now the Match of …

1904 – Apparatus for Facilitating Walking or Running – Skorzewski (West Prussian)

(1904 claims) Skorzewski's Apparatus for Facilitating Walking or Running avoids one of the main causes of muscular fatigue, namely the necessity of a man's lifting his centre of gravity a certain height at every step. During the period of descent there is no compensation for the energy expended. The muscles have to remain strained in …