a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Source: Popular Science May 1965. "Mechanical elephant looks real – This battery-driven elephant looks so much like the real thing that people have complained of its treatment. Built for a British ice show, it annoyed some to see it walk on ice. Guided by controls in the neck, it's powered by a one-hp., 50-volt motor …
Read More “1965 – “Electrophant” Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)”
GIANT MECHANICAL MAN WALKS CITY STREETS For centuries mechanicians have busied themselves with mechanical figures, or automatons, Which could imitate the actions of men and beasts. They have devised mechanical butlers, flute players, buglers, tambourine players, and chess players; but it remained for an American inventor to build the steel pedestrian Which draws along the …
Read More “1919 – Giant Walking Mechanical Man – Fern Pieper / Chas. Oehler (American)”
(Source: Popular Mechanics May 1918)
Frame walkers are a class of mobile robots that are robust and capable mobility platforms. Variations of the frame walker robot are in commercial use today are: Komatsu Ltd. of Japan developed the Remotely Controlled Underwater Surveyor (ReCUS) and Normed Shipyards of France developed the Marine Robot (RM3). Both applications of the frame walker …
Read More “1989 – Martin-Marietta Mars Rover – Wendell Chun (American)”
Creeping Robot Activated Balloon (CRAB) – A clever Walking Beam model devised by Peter Holland. See pdf below for full instructions on how to build this novel walking model.