a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
EMMA – Electronic Mime Mobile Animal There were two versions of EMMA offered, the second one referred to as "Educated" EMMA, having a Condition Reflex cirrcuit added in. The pdf attached has the complete articles, but I've OCR'ed the introductory descriptions – see below. Block diagram of EMMA without additions. EMMA This article deals with …
ASTOR V1 [Image from "Cybernetics" , John Frederick Young, 1969] As from the text below, ASTOR V1 used discrete components and was built by P. A. Kidd and C. J. Lloyd. It was probably built earlier than the book date, but I have not found any other record of this. ASTOR V2 [ no …
Read More “1969 – “Astor” – Aston Cybernetics Laboratory (British)”
An interesting article in terms of the beginning of the fundamental shift from discrete physical models to computer modeling and simulation. "Construction of STeLLA as a mechanical tortoise was abandoned when it became clear that with present technology and available resources the building of a machine could do no more than remind us of what …
Read More “1962-6 – “STeLLA” Cybernetic Tortoise – John H. Andreae and Peter L. Joyce (British)”
Robot Cyclist will Ride the Streets. A robot cyclist named Dynamo Joe, capable of propelling himself unaided through the streets has been built by students of Bristol University Engineering Department as the main attraction of the University's Rag Week, which begins Wednesday 28th February 1951. The robot's body is made from a 10-gallon oil drum, …
Patent number: 1221970 . See full patent details here. Filing date: Feb 20, 1917 Issue date: Apr 10, 1917 Fort Wayne News 01 May 1917 p6 THE WALKING DOLLS. Harry Coleman of New Palace to Make Them a Fad. Harry Coleman's convict clad walking doll is going to have a lot of sisters and brothers …
Read More “1917 – Coleman’s Walking Dummy – Harry Coleman (British/American)”