a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
The vehicle in the book is described as being bee-like; when not flying, then walking. During the 1920s and 1930s, the lunar rovers of science fiction were sometimes more humorous than scientific. Homer Eon Flint, in 1923, proposed in his novel "Out of the Moon" what might be termed an ornithomorphic design. It resembled a …
Read More “1923 – Walking Lunar Rover (Science Fiction) – Homer Eon Flint (American)”
Some of these early concepts for lunar exploration had elements of practicality; others were pure whimsy. One of the first, by Polish science-fiction writer Jerzy Zulawski (1874-1915), fell into the first category. His rover design appeared as an illustration in his 1901 tale "Szrebyym Globie" ["On the Silver Globe"] and featured full pressurization, electrical power, …
Read More “1901-3 – Walking Lunar Vehicle (Science Fiction) – Jerzy Zulawski (Polish)”
During 1933, engineer's were determining how the Golden Gate Bridge[1] was to be built. Source: Modern Mechanix and Inventions, Dec 1933. One engineer's suggestion for the solution of the problem of sinking caissons[2] is depicted here in this picture of a "walking bridge." Definite placement of caissons has always been an engineering bugaboo when they are …
Read More “1933 – Giant Walking Bridge – M. Clemients (French)”
I first saw this mentioned in David M. Earle's interesting book titled "Re-Covering Modernism: Pulps, Paperbacks, and the Prejudice of Form", but John Ptak's recent post reminded me of it. I have used his image of the prototype walking machine. The model of King Grey, the Electric Titan. Although called "Electric", the motive power is …
Read More “1916 – “King Grey” the Electric Titan – Fern Pieper (American)”
The "Space Models" designed by Peter Holland, which appeared in the early Model Maker of the 'fifties onwards, were interesting applications of mechanical principles and some are still available today in the Model Maker Plans Service as constructional drawings. This, his latest, "Space Model" makes use of readily available gear and rack sets and there's …
Read More “1980 – “Crater Scraper” Walking Beam Model – Peter Holland (British)”