a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Tin Can With An Idea – An imaginative Kansas teacher ( Bill Allen, Hamilton School in Wichita, Kan.) builds a robot to stir his students' interest in classroom science. Disappointed with his first-year performance as a general science teacher at Hamilton School in Wichita, Kan., Bill Allen figured that what he most needed was something …
Mr. Magnetron – At the National Radio Show held at Earls Court, London, England, Signalman Mellor, of Manchester, introduces a young man to the robot Mr. Magnetron. © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS Date Photographed: September 1, 1953 Mr Magnetron 24th March 1954: Lieutenant Corporal Pauline Bevan and Private Smith of the WRAC look at Mr Magnetron …
Anatole the Robot A radio controlled French robot made by Jean Dussailly. According to Tout Savoir magazine for July 1954 Anatole could move its head right and left, move its arms and responded to ten commands; and it weighed 140 kg and was 2m 10cm high. Le Haut-Parleur No. 956 Page 8 , 15 Juin …
In June of this year (2009), I went to the UK and to Europe to visit some of the great computer pioneers and in particular, to talk to them about their early cybernetic models they built. I travelled with David Buckley (see his site here), and one of our stops was to see Heinz Zemanek …
Read More “1954 – Vienna Turtle – Eichler / Zemanek (Austrian)”
The Ducrocq family of cybernetic animals were named “Miso” These were designated M-1 through to M-5. Some articles refer to “le renard” (French for fox) as “Job” (M-5). M-1 in most cases was referred to as Miso. It probably became M-1 when M-2 was built. So far, I have seen pictures of 6 different Miso’s. …
Read More “1951-54 – Miso, Barbara, Cesare, Felapton, Job – Albert Ducrocq (French)”