a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Erector: Metal construction modelling sets invented in 1911 and patented in 1913 by A. C. Gilbert. Very similar to the earlier Meccano by Frank Hornby. Before the word "Robot" was coined and popularised from 1920 onwards, walking machines resembling people were called "Mechanical Men" or "Automatons". Erector called one of their early moving constructions a …
Read More “1916-> Erector Robot Models – A. C. Gilbert (American)”
Andreas Konkoly, a renowned Meccanoman, built many walking machines and robots in his lifetime. This reproduction, by S. Tokarski shows the Magic Motor (clockwork spring) power drive. For weight distribution and size, the drive is mounted in the rickshaw, and a driveshaft extends forward to the walking mechanism in the "Coolie". The walking motion is rather simplistic, …
Read More “Meccano Walking Rickshaws – Andreas Konkoly (Hungarian) and 2005 Phil Edwards (American)”
During some earlier research on Walking Machines, discovered an article in The Salt Lake Tribune. (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 09, 1913 headlined "The Giant Mechanical Mosquitoes Of Dr. Gustav Luchy." Now that it's come time to write it up, I see that Lyle Zapato's in his blog ZPi has already done a fine job in researching …
Read More “1913 – Giant Mechanical Mosquito – Dr. Gustav Luchy (Swiss)”
Metal feet on Swedish carriage enables it to "walk" up or down stairs. The rocking rhythm on flat surface puts baby to sleep. Source: Mechanics Illustrated May 1957.
See full patent details here. Patent number: 658004 Filing date: Feb 7, 1900 Issue date: Sep 18, 1900 Further patent improvements include US747387, US787500, and US979447. Source: Popular Science September 1933 Some images located here. The Pedrail wheel Text from Wikipedia. A pedrail wheel climbing stairs, February 7, 1904 The New York Times. The pedrail wheel is …
Read More “1900 – Pedrail Walking Wheel – Bramah J. Diplock (British)”