a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
November, 1915 THE ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTER by Hugo Gernsback. Front cover -'THE RADIUM DESTROYER' from a painting by Thomas H. Wrenn. (typo- actually Thomas N. Wrenn) Warfare of the Future The Radium Destroyer THE European War has clearly demonstrated what a tremendous part modern science plays in the offense as well as in the defense of Read More "1915 The Radium Destroyer Hugo Gernsback…
The Electric Vampire By F. H. Power Illustrated by Philip Baynes (This short story appeared in The London Magazine of October 1910 with the accompanying Editor's note: 'The following short story, though of course but a figment of the imagination, is yet founded on fact. Over seventy years ago (in 1836, to be precise), a Read More "1910 The Electric Vampire F. H. Power (British)" The post 1910 The…
Source: The Daily Telegraph Harrisburg, PA.29 Dec 1870 A NEW ADAM IN SWEDEN. Curious Story from a Swedish Paper How a Man was Made What a New Being Thought and Felt How He Acquired Ideas, etc., etc., etc. The New York World says: A Swedish paper makes the seemingly preposterous assertion that a scientific gentleman of Stockholm Read More "1870 Artificial Man Orin Vasta (Swedish)" The post 1870…
1960 'Beauregard' the Robot by Tom Graham. There are 17 buttons on the control panel, which Tom uses to make the mechanical man do his bidding. Aided by his machinist dad, the lad labored for 15 months to perfect the robot. Operating a 17-button control panel, Tom Graham is able to make his home-made Read More "1960 Beauregard the Robot Tom Graham (American)" The post 1960 Beauregard the Robot Tom…
1959 'DUHAB' (Detector of Undesirable HABitu s) by Lawrence Lipton / Bill Riola. Photograph caption dated December 5, 1960 reads, 'Electronic Cat Detects Subversives for Beatniks. Duhab accompanies poet-author Lawrence Lipton to weed out undesirables.' Image source: The Los Angeles Public Library. Lawrence Lipton was talking to the Valley College Writer's Club. Source: The beatnik Read More "1959…
1965 'Mr. Obos' the Robot by Lou Nasti (upper right). New York Times, March 20, 1965 By PHILIP H. DOUGHERTY Print Headline: 'So What Else Is New? A Robot Makes Debut on Flatbush Ave.' So What Else Is New? A Robot Makes Debut on Flatbush Ave. ROBOT IN RESIDENCE: Mr. Obos blinks Read More "1965 Mr. Obos the Robot Lou Nasti (American)" The post 1965 Mr. Obos the Robot Lou Nasti (American) appeared…
1954 'Sylvania Sam' Promotional Robot. The 'Sylvania Sam' Promotional Robot was a 9-foot tall talking 'electronic' robot that tells you all about pink 'Softlight' bulbs. See other early Humanoid Robots here. The post 1954 Sylvania Sam Promotional Robot (American) appeared first on cyberneticzoo.com .
1957 'Mr. Fantastic' Ushering Robot by Andy Frain Jr.. A tape recorder replays the ushering commentary via a speaker in 'his' chest. 'His' right toe has a sensor that counts the passing crowd. An interesting anecdote about Andy Frain, Jr. Source: The San Bernardino County, May 21 1954. Runs $1 Million Firm His Pay: Read More "1957 Mr. Fantastic Robot Andy Frain Jr. (American)" The post 1957 Mr.…
Source: Xenia Daily Gazette Mon, May 24, 1971 Computerized mouse maze first of 3 long-term projects for Xenian. by Ward Pimley Gazette staff writer To a research psychologist, running a mouse through a maze to investigate behavior patterns is a common occurrence. But to an electronic engineering drawing specialist who wants to simulate the Read More "1971 Model 2004 Maze-Solving Computer Richard…
From the 'Captain Video' TV serial, the 'I, Tobor' episodes starting the week of November 2, 1953. Tobor (played by 7' 6' Dave Ballard) was a prototype robot designed to be a tireless worker and indestructible soldier. It bore the inscription 'I-TOBOR' (a reversed image of ROBOT-I) on its chest plate. Tobor's body featured a Read More "1953 Tobor the Robot Dave Ballard (American)" The post 1953…