a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
"Rodney", the Self-Programming Robot is based on the book How to Build Your Own Self-Programming Robot by David L. Heiserman [TAB, 1979]. ByRamiro Molinaon September 18, 2013 This book is geared towards those that have good knowledge of electronics and are willing to jump into a project that involves CPU based control. It outlines how to …
Read More “1979 – “Rodney” Self-Programming Robot – David L. Heiserman (American)”
Self-recognition and the Mirror Dance [Image source: An Imitation of Life, Scientific American, May 1950, p42-45.] 7 . Self-recognition. The machines are fitted with a small flash-lamp bulb in the head which is turned off automatically whenever the photo-cell receives an adequate light signal. When a mirror or white surface is encountered the reflected light …
Read More “W. Grey Walter’s Tortoises – Self-recognition and Narcissism”
ROBOTICS: Featuring An Automated Pavlovian Dog! Developed many years ago, in the "Pre-IC Age" these Robot Rovers could simulate such Classical Pavlovian Responses as: CONDITIONING, EXTINCTION, SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY, LEARNING CURVES and HIGHER-ORDER CONDITIONING. Three-deck stepping-relays comprised the main elements of the dog's memory. A few transistors were used for "eye" and "ear" sensors, plus …
Read More “1963c- Cybernetic Dogs – Fred Chesson (American)”
Although built using a child's electric car as the chassis, the fully functional Buster was a true Cybernetic Animal, showing reflexes, phototropism, and hunger / recharging modes. He could operate totally autonomously if so desired, but had manual overrides via a remote panel or remote control via an acoustic adapter. No CPU chips here. Op-amps, …
Read More “1976 – “Buster” Robot Animal – David L. Heiserman (American)”
"CYCLOPS" (CYbernetically Controlled Light Oriented and Powered System) , built by L. C. Galitz as a construction project for The Radio Constructor [later renamed to Radio & Electronics Constructor from Jan 1973 onwards]. Cyclops is one of the last construction projects for a fully featured cybernetic model subscribing to the conditioned reflex approach to a 'learning …