a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
The vehicle in the book is described as being bee-like; when not flying, then walking. During the 1920s and 1930s, the lunar rovers of science fiction were sometimes more humorous than scientific. Homer Eon Flint, in 1923, proposed in his novel "Out of the Moon" what might be termed an ornithomorphic design. It resembled a …
Read More “1923 – Walking Lunar Rover (Science Fiction) – Homer Eon Flint (American)”
Some of these early concepts for lunar exploration had elements of practicality; others were pure whimsy. One of the first, by Polish science-fiction writer Jerzy Zulawski (1874-1915), fell into the first category. His rover design appeared as an illustration in his 1901 tale "Szrebyym Globie" ["On the Silver Globe"] and featured full pressurization, electrical power, …
Read More “1901-3 – Walking Lunar Vehicle (Science Fiction) – Jerzy Zulawski (Polish)”
Pat Rawlings’ Rendering of the “Habot” Mobile Lunar Base Concept (courtesy of John Mankins, NASA HQ, and Neville Marzwell, Jet Propulsion Laboratory). Mankins’ Habot John Mankins introduced the Habitat Robot concept, “Habot,” in 2000 as a radical departure from traditional lunar base studies. The strongest attribute of the Habot is its “small is beautiful” emphasis. …
Read More “2000 – HABOT Lunar Habitat Walker – John Mankins (American)”