Great Robotic Moments in History

ROBOTICSROBOTICS

ClepsydraClepsydra1400 BC1400 BC

Babylonians develop the clepsydra, a clock that measures Babylonians develop the clepsydra, a clock that measures time using the flow of water. It's considered one of the first time using the flow of water. It's considered one of the first

"robotic" devices in history. "robotic" devices in history. For centuries, inventors will refine the design. For centuries, inventors will refine the design.

Around 270 BC, the Greek inventor Ctesibius becomes Around 270 BC, the Greek inventor Ctesibius becomes famous for a water clock with moving figures on it.famous for a water clock with moving figures on it.

Aristotle’s IdeaAristotle’s Idea322 BC322 BC

The Greek philosopher Aristotle imagines the great utility of The Greek philosopher Aristotle imagines the great utility of robots, writing, "If every tool, when ordered, or even of its robots, writing, "If every tool, when ordered, or even of its own accord, could do the work that befits it … then there own accord, could do the work that befits it … then there

would be no need either of apprentices for the master would be no need either of apprentices for the master workers or of slaves for the lords."workers or of slaves for the lords."

DaVinci’s KnightDaVinci’s Knight14951495

Leonardo da Vinci designs a clockwork knight that will sit Leonardo da Vinci designs a clockwork knight that will sit up, wave its arms and move its head and jaw. It's not up, wave its arms and move its head and jaw. It's not

certain whether the robot was ever built, but the design certain whether the robot was ever built, but the design may constitute the first humanoid robot.may constitute the first humanoid robot.

Vaucanson DuckVaucanson Duck17371737

French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson builds a clockwork French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson builds a clockwork duck capable of flapping its wings, quacking, eating and duck capable of flapping its wings, quacking, eating and

digesting food.digesting food.

The TurkThe Turk17691769

Hungarian author and inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen Hungarian author and inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen builds "The Turk," a maple wood box with a mannequin, builds "The Turk," a maple wood box with a mannequin,

dressed in cloak and turban, protruding from the back. The dressed in cloak and turban, protruding from the back. The device gains great fame as an automaton capable of device gains great fame as an automaton capable of

playing chess against skilled opponents--until it is playing chess against skilled opponents--until it is discovered that a human operator hides inside the box.discovered that a human operator hides inside the box.

Jacquard LoomJacquard Loom18011801

French silk weaver and inventor Joseph Marie Jacquard French silk weaver and inventor Joseph Marie Jacquard invents an automated loom that is controlled by punch invents an automated loom that is controlled by punch cards. Within a decade it is being mass-produced, and cards. Within a decade it is being mass-produced, and

thousands are in use across Europe.thousands are in use across Europe.(Also a great stride in computer programming)(Also a great stride in computer programming)

PinocchioPinocchio18811881

Italian author Carlo Collodi writesItalian author Carlo Collodi writes Pinocchio Pinocchio, a children's book , a children's book about a marionette who turns into a real boy. about a marionette who turns into a real boy. The literary theme The literary theme

of mechanical men who come to life will flourish along with the of mechanical men who come to life will flourish along with the technological evolution of robots-technological evolution of robots--most recently, in movies like -most recently, in movies like

Steven Spielberg's Steven Spielberg's A.I.A.I. and in TV characters like Data from and in TV characters like Data from Star Star Trek: The Next GenerationTrek: The Next Generation

Wizard of Oz TinmanWizard of Oz Tinman19001900

L. Frank Baum invents one of the literary world's most beloved L. Frank Baum invents one of the literary world's most beloved robots in robots in The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz: the Tin Woodsman, a : the Tin Woodsman, a

mechanical man in search of a heart. mechanical man in search of a heart. The character is seen as a The character is seen as a symbol for the soullessness of mechanized industry.symbol for the soullessness of mechanized industry.

Capek’s RobotaCapek’s Robota19211921

Czech playwright Karl Capek popularizes the term "robot" Czech playwright Karl Capek popularizes the term "robot" in a play called "R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robot)." The in a play called "R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robot)." The

word comes from the Czech word comes from the Czech robotarobota, which means drudgery , which means drudgery or forced work. The play ends with robots taking over the or forced work. The play ends with robots taking over the

earth and destroying their makers.earth and destroying their makers.

MetropolisMetropolis19261926

Film director Fritz Lang releases Metropolis, a silent film set Film director Fritz Lang releases Metropolis, a silent film set in a futuristic urban dystopia. It features a female robot--the in a futuristic urban dystopia. It features a female robot--the first to appear on the silver screen--who takes the shape of first to appear on the silver screen--who takes the shape of

a human woman in order to destroy a labor movement.a human woman in order to destroy a labor movement.

Asimov’s Three Laws of RoboticsAsimov’s Three Laws of Robotics19421942

American science fiction author Isaac Asimov publishes a short American science fiction author Isaac Asimov publishes a short story, "Runaround," that introduces the "Three Laws of Robotics"--story, "Runaround," that introduces the "Three Laws of Robotics"--

rules that every robot is programmed to obey: rules that every robot is programmed to obey: 1. A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, 1. A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction,

allow a human being to come to harm.allow a human being to come to harm.2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such 3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Universal AutomationUniversal Automation19541954

Industrial robotics pioneer George Devol files a patent Industrial robotics pioneer George Devol files a patent (pictured) for the first programmable robot and coins the (pictured) for the first programmable robot and coins the

term "universal automaton."term "universal automaton."

UnimationUnimation19561956

George Devol and Joseph Engelberger (pictured) George Devol and Joseph Engelberger (pictured) form the form the world's first robotics company, Unimationworld's first robotics company, Unimation. In the 1960s, it is . In the 1960s, it is

purchased by Condec, which later is bought, in part, by purchased by Condec, which later is bought, in part, by industrial manufacturing giant Eaton.industrial manufacturing giant Eaton.

MIT AshtrayMIT Ashtray19591959

The Servomechanisms Laboratory at the Massachusetts The Servomechanisms Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrates computer-assisted Institute of Technology demonstrates computer-assisted

manufacturing. manufacturing. A robotic milling machine creates a A robotic milling machine creates a commemorative ashtray for each attendeecommemorative ashtray for each attendee..

UnimateUnimate19611961

Unimate, the world's first industrial robot, goes to work on a Unimate, the world's first industrial robot, goes to work on a General Motors assembly line.General Motors assembly line.

Rosie the RobotRosie the Robot19621962

Rosie the robot appears on The Jetsons, an animated TV Rosie the robot appears on The Jetsons, an animated TV program about a family from the future. The iconic house program about a family from the future. The iconic house maid becomes one of the best-known robot characters in maid becomes one of the best-known robot characters in

recent history.recent history.

ShakeyShakey19661966

The Artificial Intelligence Center at the Stanford Research The Artificial Intelligence Center at the Stanford Research Center begins development of Shakey, the first mobile Center begins development of Shakey, the first mobile

robot. It is endowed with a limited ability to see and model robot. It is endowed with a limited ability to see and model its environment its environment and is controlled by a computer that fills an and is controlled by a computer that fills an

entire roomentire room..

HALHAL19681968

HAL 9000 (HAL 9000 (HHeuristically programmed euristically programmed ALALgorithmic computer) gorithmic computer) appears in the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey, appears in the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey,

written by Arthur C. Clarke. The artificially intelligent computer written by Arthur C. Clarke. The artificially intelligent computer runs the spaceship Discovery--and eventually goes berserk. runs the spaceship Discovery--and eventually goes berserk.

The character reflects concern about the increasing power of The character reflects concern about the increasing power of intelligent machines over man.intelligent machines over man.

StarWarsStarWars19771977

R2-D2 and C-3PO appear in George Lucas' R2-D2 and C-3PO appear in George Lucas' Star WarsStar Wars films. The plucky androids are arguably the best-known films. The plucky androids are arguably the best-known

robots in modern culture.robots in modern culture.

DanteDante19931993

An eight-legged robot named Dante attempts to explore An eight-legged robot named Dante attempts to explore Antarctica's Mount Erebus volcano. It is remotely controlled Antarctica's Mount Erebus volcano. It is remotely controlled

from the U.S. and collects a small amount of data before from the U.S. and collects a small amount of data before mechanical difficulties end the experiment. mechanical difficulties end the experiment. But the But the

landmark effort ushers in a new era of robotic exploration of landmark effort ushers in a new era of robotic exploration of hazardous environments.hazardous environments.

FurbyFurby19981998

A fuzzy, batlike robot called Furby becomes the must-have A fuzzy, batlike robot called Furby becomes the must-have toy of the holiday season. The $30 toys seemingly "evolve" toy of the holiday season. The $30 toys seemingly "evolve"

over time, first speaking in gibberish but soon developing over time, first speaking in gibberish but soon developing the use of preprogrammed English phrases. More than 27 the use of preprogrammed English phrases. More than 27

million of the toys sell in a 12-month period.million of the toys sell in a 12-month period.

AiboAibo19991999

Gadget lovers develop a serious case of puppy love for Sony's Gadget lovers develop a serious case of puppy love for Sony's robot dog AIBO. The $2,000 mechanical mutt can navigate robot dog AIBO. The $2,000 mechanical mutt can navigate around a room and respond to a set of limited commands.around a room and respond to a set of limited commands.

AsimoAsimo20002000

Honda's humanoid robot ASIMO steps onto the stage. Standing Honda's humanoid robot ASIMO steps onto the stage. Standing 1.3 meters tall, it can walk and run with a near-human gait.1.3 meters tall, it can walk and run with a near-human gait.

RoombaRoomba20022002

The Roomba robotic vacuum from the iRobot Corp. is The Roomba robotic vacuum from the iRobot Corp. is released. The Frisbee-shaped device has sold over 2 released. The Frisbee-shaped device has sold over 2 million units to date, making it the most commercially million units to date, making it the most commercially

successful domestic robot in history.successful domestic robot in history.

SpeecysSpeecys20042004

The robotics business hits the big time, becoming a $1.06 The robotics business hits the big time, becoming a $1.06 billion business in North America.billion business in North America. Pictured is the humanoid Pictured is the humanoid

robot Speecys SPC-003.robot Speecys SPC-003.