a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Source: Xenia Daily Gazette Mon, May 24, 1971 Computerized mouse maze first of 3 long-term projects for Xenian. by Ward Pimley – Gazette staff writer To a research psychologist, running a mouse through a maze to investigate behavior patterns is a common occurrence. But to an electronic engineering drawing specialist who wants to simulate the …
Read More “1971 – Model 2004 Maze-Solving Computer – Richard Browne (American)”
"Moonlight Special" Photo at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories Top – "Moonlight Special" , Middle- "Moonlight Flash" , Bottom Right – "Midnight Express" all in full dress. In 1977, Machine Design sponsored yet another mouse contest, "The great Clock Climbing Contest", coupled with the rediscovered information of the 1972 "Le Mouse 5000" contest that spurred on …
Read More “1977-79 – “Moonlight Special” Battelle Inst. (American)”
Oakland Tribune 22 Aug 1957 Lauren V. Merritt, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Merritt of El Cerrito, was concerned. "Gizzmo is acting up," he said. "Gizzmo" is a maze-solving robot. Push a button anywhere and a light bounces through a ?complicated maze? and "Gizzmo" remembers the way out. Merritt is a student of …
Read More “1957 – “Gizzmo” Maze-solving Robot – Lauren V. Merritt (American)”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Feb 1, 1967 …….. He [Professor Meredith Wooldridge Thring, 51, professor of mechanical engineering at London's Queen Mary College] suggested a trip to one of his laboratories. "Here you see our mechanical rat," he explained. He pointed to a gadget about the size of a boy's electric train. Before it lay a …
Read More “1966 – Mechanical Rat – Meredith Thring (British)”
Robert J. Curran's Mechanical Maze is included here as it is essentially a mechanical computer, exhibiting similar characteristics as other electro-mechanical maze solvers. As the mouse travels a path, if it has to back out due to a dead-end, the return pass triggers a mechanical latch to give the maze a "memory". The patent description gives …
Read More “1962 – Mechanical Maze with Memory – R.J. Curran (American)”