a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
"Gyro Gearloose" walking inventions featured here appeared in comics from 1967 owards, I believe. From Wiki: Gyro Gearloose is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic chicken created by Carl Barks for The Walt Disney Company. He is part of the Scrooge McDuck universe, appearing in comic book stories as a friend of Donald Duck, Scrooge and anyone …
Read More “1952-> Gyro Gearloose Walking Inventions – Carl Barks (American)”
Source: MECHANIX ILLUSTRATED August, 1949 Truck Walks on Wheels ADMIRAL Richard E. Byrd's transport troubles in the Antarctic ten years ago started John F. Kopczynski, a student engineer, thinking: "Why can't wheels walk?" Conventional wheels merely spun and bogged down helplessly in the deep snow. Walking wheels could pull like the tracks on a tractor …
Read More “1950 – Elliptical Walking Wheels – John Kopczynski (American)”
Source: Popular Mechanics, April 1970. 1- SQUARE WHEELS WORK BETTER than round ones in this system for use on rough terrain- The sharp-cornered treads dig in on snow, mud, sand or steep grades, providing increased traction for trucks, tanks and other military vehicles. At the same time, ingenious self-leveling geometry provides a smooth ride on …
Read More “1954 – Square Walking Wheel – Albert Sfredda (American)”
Taking 400-foot 15-second hops, lunar "pogo sticks" could most forward at about 20 miles an hour—much faster than the four to five miles an hour of vehicles now being considered for moon exploration. The moon leaper was devised by Dr. Howard S. Seifert, scientist at the United Technology Center at Sunnyvale, Calif. This artist's concept …
Read More “1967 – “Lunar Leaper” – Dr. Howard S. Seifert et al (American)”
Patent number: 2371368 Filing date: Oct 16, 1942 Issue date: Mar 13, 1945 See full patent details here. Blurb from patent describiting capabilities and uses. This invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a tank which is propelled by means of an operating leg. One Of the objects of this Invention is to …