a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
(Source: Mechanix illustrated September 1951) Robots in Ragtime The Japanese have come up with something new in toys. It’s a mechanical orchestra and its tinny music has captured the hearts of the youngsters. Jiro Aizawa, an ex-Kamikaze plane designer, is the creator. Loath to discard his mechanical training after the war, he turned to experimentation …
Read More “1940-70 – Mini Musician Robots – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)”
Mr Hachiro appearing on the cover of a 1967 Model Magazine. Mr Hachiro (small robot second from left). A later picture of Mr. Hachiro (third from the left, front, small) with his brothers. See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .
Mr. Ryo [Ryo-Kun] on display after his restoration. Ryo-Kun during restoration at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan in 2008. The robot's left arm follows the X-Y directions from a master arm seen here at the base being guided by a person. Close-up of the drawing hand. Close-up of the master arm. I do …
Read More “1967 – Mr. Ryo the Drawing Robot – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)”
Mr. Atomic is an Aizawa robot that was in an exhibition in 1968. It draws (and/or writes) with its right hand/arm, and rubber stamps with the left. Mr. Atomic may not be it's real name, but is the name on its shoulder. See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .
l Mr. Juro [å郎ã¯] was 'born' in 1967. "Juro" means "ten" in Japanese, so he was most likely the 10th brother. Here he greets and counts (via numbers displayed on Nixie tubes) visitors to the Science and Technology Museum in Tokyo. See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .