1958 – RUM – Remote Underwater Manipulator – Victor Anderson (American)

RUM – Remote Underwater Manipulator Press Release: U.S. Navy reveals new remote control vehicle for exploring ocean bottom.: A unique remote control undersea vehicle for exploring and conducting scientific studies of the ocean bottom for prolonged periods at great depths has been developed for the Office of Naval Research. The new vehicle was demonstrated for …

1958-62 – “Beetle” Mobile Manipulator – G.E. Corp. (American)

1958-62 – "Beetle" Mobile Manipulator. Background Information: Popular Mechanic's (Sep 1956) drawing made by Frank Tinsley from designs by Lee A. Ohlinger of Northrop Aviation, Inc. of a robot mechanic for the proposed atomic-powered airplane, a star-crossed project that stumbled through 10 years and $500,000 without ever getting off the ground. General Mills was one …

1958 – Mobile Remote Servo-manipulator – Ray Goertz et al (American)

Mobile Remote Servo-manipulator. Caption: Robot Demonstrations Of The Atomic Age: Many onlookers – including schoolboys were thrilled by the robot "hands" – dealings with a variety of tasks on one of the stands at the Geneva Atomic Exhibition. The "almost human hands" are used in dealing with radio-active materials behind protective walls and are controlled …

1958 – Astrotug – Lockheed (American)

Astrotug in Operation – Artist's Conception The Astrotug Tugboat for Space: Spaceborne scientific laboratories and platforms for further exploration into space are an accepted concept based on established engineering techniques. Components would be fired  as individual units into space, on precalculated orbits, and there assembled. To solve the major problems of how men are to …

1958 – Voice-controlled Lawn Mower – Concept (American)

Image Source: Corbis. Electricity may do your yard work. One day, by simply speaking into a microphone, you may be able to command an electric "gardener" to mow the grass, cultivate the flower beds, trim the hedge and do other yard work. And all the while you'll be relaxing in the shade. Power companies build …