a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
1968-69 – Deepstar 2000 Diving Saucer by Westinghouse. The manipulator arm is simple as per all Cousteau/Westinghouse submersibles of this period with only two degrees of freedom. The arm is electro-hydraulic and the claw is of the clam-shell type, also referred to as an "orange peel" claw. Arm is also mechanically jettisonable for safety reasons. …
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1968 – AUTEC I and II Submersibles by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics. Designated TURTLE and SEA CLIFF by the U.S. Navy. Press Release – 1968 – Escape Capsule GROTON, CONN.: This artist's concept of an AUTEC Research Submarine shows the use of tools selected from an external tool compartment. In an emergency …
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EVA Pod – The EVA Pod is a fictional spacecraft used for extra-vehicular activity seen in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Jupiter spacecraft Discovery One carries three of these small, one-man maintenance vehicles. [EVA – Extra-Vehicular Activity i.e. activity outside of the prime space vehicle.] Film stage. Detail of manipulator arms. Illustrations by …
Read More “1965-8 – Space Pod – 2001: A Space Odyssey – Clarke (British) / Kubrick (American)”
Android Space Manipulator Robots May Tend Ailing Satellites -One of the frustrations of scientists is "burned out" satellites, those which, because of a malfunction or a worn-out part, inertly orbit the earth, doing no worldly good. "Such a satellite becomes a million dollar bit of space debris for lack of a two-dollar part. It would …
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jvkvkvkvhjkhj A rather unusual electrical unilateral teleoperator is the Serpentuator (Serpentine Actuator) under development at Marshall Space Flight Center (fig. 109 above). The Serpentuator consists of links several feet long separated by joints driven by electric motors, or, in one version, electrohydraulic actuators. With maximum deflections of about 20° per joint, the teleoperator can be …
Read More “1968 – Serpentuator – Frederic E. Wells, NASA/MSFC (American)”