Timeline of Robotics

Timeline of Robotics

400 BCE

250 BCE

1738

1854

1939

1948

1801

1920

1942

Wooden Pigeon

Ancient Egyptian Water Clock

Mechanical Duck

Jacquard Loom

George Boole

Karel Capek

Elektro

Isaac Asimov

Elmer and Elsie

Ancient Greek inventor Archytas of Tarentum build a wooden pigeon that flies through the air on a steam-powered arm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KQhSDur1WU

Some people consider these water-powered clocks (invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria) to be an early form of robotics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAWt-bg0RN0

French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson makes a mechanical duck that eats food.

Scientist and engineer William Grey Walter creates two robotic tortoises, Elmer and Elsie, that respond to their surroundings.

A humanoid named Elektro stars at the World's Fair in New York. He was 2m tall!

British mathematician George Boole writes An Investigation into the Laws of Thought. It has the rules later used to program computers and robots.

Frenchman Joseph Marie Jacquard invents the first programmable machine - a loom for weaving patterned cloth.

Czech author Karel Capek uses the word "robot" for the first time in his play Rossum's Universal Robots.

American author Isaac Asimov invents his "Three Laws of Robotics" for how robots should behave.

Timeline of Robotics

1950

1956

1961

1970

1997

1999

1966

1984

1998

The Turing Test

John McCarthy

Unimate

Shakey

Lunokhod 1

Wabot-2

Deep Blue

Kismet

AIBO

British mathematician Alan Turing creates a test for computer intelligence.

American computer scientist John McCarthy invents the term "artificial intelligence".

The first industrial robot, Unimate, begins work at the General Motors factory in New Jersey, USA.

Sony's AIBO, a robotic dog that uses artificial intelligence, goes on sale.

The computer Deep Blue beats world chess champion, Garry Kasparov.

The Soviet Union's rover Lunokhod 1 becomes the first robot to explore the Moon.

Shakey becomes the first robot to use artificial intelligence to make its own decisions.

Wabot-2 is build in Japan. It is the first robot to read music and play and organ with its hands and feet.

Work begins on Kismet. This early social robot could communicate using facial expressions.