1955 – Mobile Remote Manipulator – (American)

1955 – Mobile Remote Manipulator at Argonne National Labs. Sphere-mounted tongs, similar to those on Mobile Remote Manipulator. Popular Mechanics Feb 1955 Lead Shield on Wheels Guards Atomic Worker Electric motors propel a heavy, three-sided lead shield used in handling radioactive materials at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. The barrier, which is four inches thick, …

1930 – Teleoperated “Flying Robot” – Russell Keaton (American)

Published December 2, 1930. Buddy Deering: "For a Iong time I had been thinking of a Flying Robot – Radio-controlled with Attractor-beam propulsion. I had it built…..with this control box I can make it do anything and talk through it." Sundays / Buck Rogers S03 – Mysterious Saturnian (1930-09-14 to 1930-11-30). The Fair Prisoner (Sept …

1929 – “Robot #792” Mobile Remote Robot – Philip Francis Nowlan / Dick Calkins (American)

On Wednesday, July 24, 1929, a Buck Rogers cartoon strip was published depicting 'Iron Men', robots that are operated by radio control. It said that "each Robot's receiver and transmitter is permanently tuned to its own control box, and it can be controlled through no other." The robot's eyes  included a lens for television transmission, …

1975 – “Roboteer” Mobile Remote Manipulator – MBAssociates (American)

Walking the Thing Roboteer, who was manufactured by a firm in San Ramon, California, is accompanied by employee Judy Bently as the mechanized marvel uses its own street crossing on its way to an unannounced destination. Officials say the robot is designed to perform functions which are considered hazardous to more ordinary and fragile mortals. …

1976 – MF3 Manipulator Vehicle – Köhler (German)

MF3 Blocher-Motor GmbH & Co. KG, Metzingen, West Germany CMS Technologies, Inc., Ft. Lee, N.J., U.S. Distributor This device is a remotely controlled, tethered 4-tracked vehicle which is used in the nuclear industry and other hazardous environments. It was initially conceived and developed at the KFA Julich Research Laboratory in West Germany. Its single, light-duty, …