a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
A significant feature of the tortoises is so often referred to as "An Imitation of Life". As well as their behaviour, the tortoises construction had to be such that autonomy could be exhibited. This is somewhat driven by the technology and parts available at the time. For Grey Walter's purposes, the models had to be self-contained …
Read More “Grey Walter’s Tortoises – Batteries, Re-charging, Hutches and Autonomy”
The next Grey Walter and his tortoises posts are taking a little time. In the mean time, here are some photo’s non-specific to other posts.
I have only come across two time-lapse photographs with both ELMER and ELSIE. One has to be careful in interpreting time-lapse photographs as there are possibly different events happening at different times, off picture interference, and possibly different start times of each tortoise. An important observation highlighted by Owen Holland is the direction of rotation …
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition which opened in London and around Britain on 3 May 1951 and finished the end of September the same year. At that time, shortly after the end of World War II, much of London was still in ruins and redevelopment was badly needed. The Festival was an …
Read More “W. Grey Walter and the Festival of Britain (1951)”
There is more to talk about and show regarding ELMER and ELSIE , the M. speculatrix models. So that I can talk about them further, I feel that I need to introduce CORA the tortoise at this time. Why, do you ask, do I keep qualifying CORA -'the tortoise' ? Some of you out there …
Read More “CORA the tortoise – Machina Docilis – Grey Walter (British)”