a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
circa 1935: Two women with Mac the Mechanical Man the radio-controlled robot invented by Leighton Hilbert. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) [Note: I don’t think Mac is radio-controlled, but there is certainly is a visual suggestion of being remotely controlled via a umbilical cord and a control box. Most likely part of the illusion. Mac is …
Read More “1934 – Mac the Mechanical Man – Leighton Hilbert (American)”
Hugo Gernsback contributed significantly to the advancement of new technologies, such as Automaton and Robots. He was responsible for some of the greatest technical magazines published, and published many articles himself. In this case, he predicts and describes a radio controlled police automaton in his magazine "Science & Invention" May 1924. This automation is referred to …
Read More “1924 – Radio Police Automaton – Gernsback (American)”
Captain Alban J. Roberts – mobile, light operated automaton 1920’s (responsible for robots attributed to Jasper Maskelyne (music halls). I have also seen this automaton incorrectly attributed to Capt W. H. Richards -Eric (in error due to similar names) . We also see the name Alan Roberts pop up as well. See video clip here. Note that clip …
Read More “1923-8 – Robot – Capt. Alban J. Roberts (New Zealand/Australia/U.K.)”
The name "Kaiser" comes from the title of a video clip found at British Pathe here. Its actual name is not known at this time. WORKING MODEL OF THE KAISER Captain Alban J. Roberts – mobile, light-operated automaton 1920's (responsible for robots attributed to Jasper Maskelyne (music halls) and occasionally incorrectly attributed to Capt W. H. …
Read More “1920 – “The Kaiser” Mechanical Man – Capt. Alban J. Roberts (New Zealand/Australia/U.K.)”
At this point in time I am unable to locate an image for Belcher’s Miss Automaton. In the mean time, here are some interesting transcripts from period newspapers. The Waterloo Evening Courier 30 Aug 1911p1 Belcher Automaton AUTOMATON WALKS, TALKS AND WRITES Boston. Mass, Aug. 30.-—John W. Belcher of Newton has created an automaton, a …