a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
1978 – ARMS 1 (Atmospheric Roving Manipulator System) As early as 1971, Dr. Norman H. Wood, program engineer for General Electric's Cybernetic Automation & Mechanization Systems Section, described a new underwater manipulator system devised for use on a multi-well submerged platform. GE's activities in manipulators date back to the company's nuclear power development and space projects. …
Underwater Army Bases and Depot (See Figure 51: Under Sea Mobility) Recent marine biology and ocean engineering work have resulted in some startling underwater activity concepts and systems designs that promise to pave the way to a profitable exploitation of untapped water resources. It is not difficult to argue that before this decade has passed …
Read More “1973 – Under Sea Mobility – Ralph Mosher (American)”
Although inspired by Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" that had infantrymen wearing "power suits" that surround their bodies and amplify their movements, most of the Gundam mobile suits were of the "driveable robot" tradition, where operators sat in cockpits and manipulated levers and pedals. The Gundam concept was developed in 1978, with the TV series first …
Read More “1978-9 – Mobile Suit Gundam (Fiction) – Yoshiyuki Tomino (Japanese)”
The devices perform alternating and quite different mechanical works which are controlled by a person. The object of the present construction is to amplify the force of a man and perform different kinds of mechanical works which otherwise have to be performed by hand. The principal kind of works to be performed are digging, pile-driving, …
Read More “1930 – Giant Mechanical Worker – Franz Hübl (Czechoslovakia)”
Concepts done 1962, test Pedipulator demonstrated in 1964. It was never completed as a poposal for a more useful quadruped was put forward and accepted (see here ). See Popular Mechanics Oct 1965 article here (pdf). See video clip of Pedipulator here. The Gaumont video site is a pain to use. One must be registered (free). There is an …
Read More “1962-64 – GE Pedipulator – Ralph Mosher (American)”