a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Not so well known is that there were two main types of R2-D2's in the original Star Wars space opera. The models operated by Kenny Baker, the other a radio-controlled (R/C) model. Visually the main difference is the Kenny Baker model only ever had two legs, and the R/C version had three, although the single …
Read More “1975-6 – R2-D2 (from Star Wars) – John Stears (British)”
Built in 1985 Robot George, it's 25 years old Dan Mathias first big robot and 40 inches tall, and weights 110 lbs, has one Pentium III – 600 MHz Lap-Top, with 128 meg ram and 20 Gig ide hard drive, sound blaster voice input, voice syntheses and image processing and control with Linux software that …
Herbert – A Soda Can collecting robot (named after the AI pioneer Herbert Simon). In mobile robot research we believe the structure of the platform, its capabilities, the choice of sensors, their capabilities, and the choice of processors, both onboard and offboard, greatly constrains the direction of research activity centered on the platform. We examine …
Read More “1986c – “Herbert” the Collection Machine – Brooks, Connell, Ning (American)”
Source: Elementary Electronics, Sep-Oct 1976 ELEMENTARY ELECTRONICS/September-October 1976 Newscan A little screwdriver twist from his master, Tom Clayton, and a pat on the back from his "half-brother" is practically all that is necessary for Robbie, the robot, to demonstrate his "inborn" programmed talents. A voice-controlled system prompts Robbie into action. NO written requests, please. This …
Read More “1976 – “Robbie” the Robot – Tom Clayton (Australian)”
(Source: Mechanix Illustrated June 1952) Mechanical Ebenezer Children in Des Moines, Iowa are enchanted by a six-foot mechanical man who walks, talks, and smokes cigarettes. Jack Brownson, who spent four years making him, guides Ebenezer by a cable, projects his voice through loadspeaker. Construction is almost entirely auto parts.