1965 – “The Friendly Grey Computer, Star Gauge Model 54” – Edward Kienholz (American)

The Friendly Grey Computer, Star Gauge Model 54 Motor-driven assemblage: painted aluminum rocking chair, metal case, two instrument boxes with dials, plastic case containing yellow and blue lights, panel with numbers, bell, "rocker switch," pack of index cards, directions for operation, light switch, telephone receiver, doll's legs, 40 x 391/8 x 24 1/2";  on aluminum …

2000 – Six Legged Bicycle – Pete Beeman (American)

Six Legged Bicycle This piece is built to ride like a bicycle, but pedaling walks the six legs, instead of turning wheels, for forward motion. Somewhere between riding a bicycle and a horse. See video here  Fabrication: Pete Beeman Engineering: Pete Beeman Date: 2000 Dimensions: 5' deep, 4' wide, 4' high Materials: aluminum, steel, wood, mechanics. [Source: All pictures and text from Pete …

2011 – “Iron Stallion” and other Mechanical Walking Machines – Carter Sharer (American)

Iron Stallion (Pedal Horse) Carter's linkages remind me somewhat of Alzetta's 1933 horse.  Longer legs, a more powerful motor, lower centre of gravity, steering and one could ride this machine bicycle-like. You start and stop with the person's feet touching the surface of the road. The ride would be a bit bumpy but swift – something …

1988-91 – AMBLER – John Bares & William “Red” Whittaker (American)

A good example of the "big iron" approach to mobile robots is AMBLER (acronym for Autonomous MoBiLe Exploration Robot), developed by Carnegie Mellon University and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This behemoth stands about 5m (16.4ft) tall, is up to 7m (23.0ft) wide, and weights 2500 kg (5512 lb). It moves at a blistering 35 cm …

1991 – TOPS TeleOperator/telePresence System – Smith and Shimamoto (American)

TeleOperator/telePresence System / Concept Verification Model (CVM) The TeleOperator/telePresence System/Concept Verification Model (TOPS/CVM)[34], was developed as the successor to the 'Greenman'. The TOPS/CVM consisted of a 3-DOF (degrees-of-freedom) head, a 3-DOF torso and a dexterous, force-reflective 9- DOF hand coupled to a force-reflective 7-DOF arm. Fig. 1 TOPS from Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San …