1983 - "Kludge" Omnidirectional Mobile Robot by John M. Holland. Kludge with legs contracted. Kludge at a 1984 exhibition. John M. Holland. The focus in this post is on the unique mobility base, and not on its navigation and sensor qualities. Patent Information: Publication number US4573548 A Publication date 4…
1985 - Nuclear Inspection Robot "AMOOTY" climbing stairs in a mock-up of a nuclear power plant. Before AMOOTY there was MOOTY. No manipulator arm here, just vision and star-wheel propulsion. Text Source: Inside The Robot Kingdom, Frederik L. Schodt, 1988 If cleverly designed, a robot on modified wheels or tank…
Meccano model of GE's Walking Truck designed by Hugh Henry. All legs are completely rotatable in the same direction. For a complete set of images see the NZ Meccano web site here. Thanks Antonio Gual for encouraging Tony Brown (the author of the Modelplan) who found some pictures of Hugh…
In this image, from top left, we have the Lunar Inchworm, Giant Inchworm, Crater Crab, Giant Snake, Martian Frog, and Star Squid. Above Images Source: Robots: Fact, Fiction & Prediction, Jasa Reichardt, 1978. Space Mechanimals advertisement in New Scientist , 23 Oct 1980 showing the available models and their model…
USEFUL ROBOTS US Patent number: 3522859 - see here for full patent details. Filing date: Jan 22, 1968 Issue date: Aug 4, 1970 First filed in Great Britain 26 Jan 1967 Model of Centipede. The 'centipede' In the first model (Fig. 6.15(a) above) of the centipede the sprung legs were…
Here is the Otherlab’s 15 foot inflatable walking robot, the Ant-Roach. We thought this conceptual elephant looked more like a cross between an anteater and a cockroach. The goal of building the Ant-Roach was to demonstrate the carrying capacity and high strength-to-weight ratios possible with inflatable structures. Comments November 21,…
Pneubot stands for "pneumatic robot", or a robot that is actuated by pneumatic technology. A pneumatic technology involves the use of compressed air to drive mechanical motion. The compressed air can be moved through soft, balloon-like tubes, which allows for both rigidity (when filled) and flexibility (when decompressed or empty).…
Danger in the Everglades. Author: Frederick W Keith Publisher: New York, Abelard-Schuman [1957] [Thanks to Michael Rekoff who informed me about this book.] Authors: Frederick W Keith OCLC Number: 1420226 Description: 1 v. illus. 22 cm. Responsibility: Illustrated by Kurt Werth. A diagram of Packy's interior from page 17.…
Reference: Science News - March 26, 1988 The Muscular Machinery of Tentacles, Trunks and Tongues Scientists discover a new way for muscles to work By STEFI WEISBURD An arm without bones could not bend. A person who tried to bend such an arm would instead end up with a…
Rear view. Concept models. Concept models. Concept models. Concept models. Propellor protection. Prop actually swivels up and down to give ground clearance or motive power. [Source: All the above images - Life 1948] [Source: Mechanix Illustrated - March 1948] [Source: Popular Mechanics - May 1948] [Source: Popular Science - May 1948]…
See Andrew Baldwin's website here http://www.andrewbaldwin.co.uk/. Andrew Baldwin trained as a Master Blacksmith and Welder and worked as such for 28 years. His interest in Victorian engineering, his limitless imagination and his aptitude for working metal are what motivates him to create his outlandish mechanical marvels. Among his creations is…
This page contains a timeline showing Early Pneumatic, Fluidic and Inflatable Robots. If image is clickable, then a blog post exists for it. Check out the updates page for recent posts. Pneumatic Robots 1875- "Psycho" Card Playing Automaton  1928 - "Gakutensoku" by Makoto Nishimura  1957-8 - Joe McKibben "Artificial Muscle"  Early Pneumatic Actuator…
In the movie "What A Way To Go!", "Larry Flint" creates painting machines to produce his abstract art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rps9NZPesh4#t=2696s Plot This lavishly produced, big-budget comedy (it cost $20 million in 1964 dollars) stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa, a widow who is worth $200 million dollars. However, she's convinced that her…