An early example of multiple robotic creatures operating together. Other than light and touch sensors, there's no other apparent interaction with them. Possibly an early but simple example of swarm robotics and collaborative robots. English translation of article text: To emphasize wont in machine control, a British firm [Mullard] of electronic devices has created these mechanical …
The QMW Mk. IV Mobile Research Robot The final version (Mk. 4) of our first attempts at a mobile robot for machine learning research. It had a somewhat unusual (and not entirely satisfactory) drive layout with wheels at the front of the vehicle. D.C. motor drive was complemented with gray-code shaft encoders. Forward facing sensors …
Text and some images sourced from here – http://www.spawar.navy.mil/robots/land/robart/robart.html This link also contains other links to ROBART information, not covered here. ROBART-I was Bart Everett‘s thesis project at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. and one of the very first behavior-based autonomous robots ever built. The navigation scheme provided a layered hierarchy of behaviors …
From: Cybernetic Serendipity : The computer and the arts. Studio International special issue 2nd Ed revised Sep. 1968 Bruce Lacey – Mate 1967 Electronic parts, aluminium, batteries, motors, etc. 24 X 24 X 72 in. Built as a companion to R.O.S.A., which it follows automatically and generally interacts with. Using ultrasonics, infra-red and sonic signals. …
Charles Rosen with "Shakey" c1970. Shakey is one of the more well known and documented autonomous automaton. With the then more topical name of "Artificial Intelligence", the "Cybernetic" world starts to lose favour. We are now entering the era of "Intelligent Automata". The research proposal for "APPLICATION OF INTELLIGENT AUTOMATA TO RECONNAISSANCE" presented on 22 …