a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Life-size Humanoid Walking Robots One of the hardest things to do in robotics is build a 2-legged robot. These robots, made from balsa wood and paper, use the lifting power provided by helium balloons or propellors to leverage themselved upright and activated via remote control. They seem to wander about with a mind of their own. …
Read More “2007 – Balloon-assisted Walking Robots – Simon Yates (Australian)”
Two Flying Humanoids successfully tested over downtown Austin, June 5, '99. Sponsored by the Austin Museum of Art's Robots Live! program. These were quite large – see the drawing of a person for comparison. Source: http://www.main.org/polycosmos/android/flyer/mrpeanut.htm The Humanoid Airship A "flying peanut" winged humanoid robot is under development for the opening of Austin's new airport. …
Read More “1999 – “Mr. Peanut” the Flying Android – David Santos (American)”
Bipedal Ornithopter in flight. Parts. Source: http://web.archive.org/web/19961114042310/http://robotgroup.org/projects/Roboblimp.html Bipedal Onithopter UAV By David Santos It runs on two legs, flaps wings to take flight, and flys nimbly about the nooks and crannies of urban landscapes. Featured on the Discovery Channel's, Invention Series, ABC's Good Morning America, and Newsweek magazine. The blimp is a 12-foot-long airship with running legs …
Read More “1990 – Bipedal Ornithopter – David Santos (American)”
The inflatable hand first appears at The First Annual International Computer Art Exhibition – Cybernetic ARTRIP, Oct. 6-21th. 1973 at the Ginza SONY Salon. See Shiro Takahashi's website here. When trying to squash a balloon having a particular shape, it is necessary to apply unexpectedly large force, and even if forcibly trying to squash the …
Read More “1973 – “Babots” Balloon Robots – Shiro Takahashi (Japanese)”