Tag: 1770

John Gaughan's version of "The Turk" Like my post on Maskelyne's "Psycho" and "Zoe" automatons, the interest here is its place in history in terms of remote master-slave manipulators, and I shall confine myself to just that. There is significant other matter on "The Turk" published elsewhere already. Well established as a fake contrivance [pseudo automaton, faux (false) automaton], …

Read More “1770 – “The Turk” Chess Automaton – Wolfgang von Kempelen (Hungarian)”

Richard Lovell Edgeworth (31 May 1744 – 13 June 1817) was an Anglo-Irish politician, writer and inventor. Although most articles suggest Edgeworth invented the Caterpillar track, the description offered below is of another invention he called a Wooden Horse."   In order to step over a fence, the legs would have to be lifted quite high.  …

Read More “1770 – 8-Legged Walking Wooden Horse – Edgeworth (Irish)”