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Period: Jan 1, 700 to Dec 31, 1499
100 AD-15th Cent
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Jan 1, 725
The first mechanical clock
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This is important because it shows that robots do not have to necessarily be powered by electricity. This "robot" is powered by water. This "robot" is also very intricate and complex, showing the complexity of robots. -
Jan 1, 1200
Al-Jazari's writings
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These writings are impotant because they give one many insights into the history of robotics. They also show the disparity of technology between the Middle East and Western Europe at that time. -
Jan 1, 1364
Heavenly clock
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This clock built in Padua, Italy, is important because it shows the medieval fascination with mechanics. This mirrors our own fascination with technology in the modern era. -
Jan 1, 1470
Johannes Muller's Eagle
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This eagle is important because it could fly with mechanics. The eagle was built for entertainment, much like some of our own robots in the modern era. -
Jan 1, 1495
Leonardo da Vinci's automated knights
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This is important because it is the first humanoid, or human-like, robot, in Western Europe. It shows how far the West had come in technology, and it also shows the importance of design to robotics. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
16th Cent-19th Cent
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Jacques du Vaucanson's automata
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These automata are important because they could play music or make sounds. Jacques' duck was an exampe of "moving autonomy"; the duck could make life-like movements with the help of mechanics. -
Joseph Jacquard's Loom
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This is impotrant because the loom is a task usually reserved to women. Since robots could do it, women did not have to do this and they could spend more time with their families. -
Frankenstein
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The Frankenstein complex is the term for the bad reputation that robots seem to have. Modern film is full of examples of evil robots, and this book is the first to give robots this misconception -
The Difference Engine
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This is important because it is the first use of artificial intelligence, or A.I. It is not just an automaton, but it can actually think for itself. -
Tesla's remote-control boat
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This is important because it is the first device to be remote-controlled. It is the precursor to all remotes. It was also first unveiled in a great arena: Madison Square Garden. This demonstrates how appreciative the public was. -
Period: to
20th Century
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The term robot
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The term robot was coined by Karel Capek in his play "R.U.R". Without him, we would not have the term for the droids that do work for us. -
Laws of Robotics
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The three laws of robotics plus the zeroth law of robotics governs how robots are to treat humans. Robots are essentially to put humanity above themselves. This is important because without these laws programmed into robots, robots could theoretically start an uprising. Although a robot uprising could start with these laws in place, the laws make it much less likely. -
GM's UNIMATE
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UNIMATE is important because it is the first industrial robot in history. Because of industrial robots, humanity can make products much more efficiently. -
Star Wars: C-3P0 and R2-D2
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The movie "Star Wars" is important to robotics because it is a film that puts a positive spin on robots. R2-D2 and C-3PO are robotic characters that ordinary people can relate to because of their human-like attitudes and qualities. -
Voyager Spacecraft
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Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have given us a great picture of our solar system. Without these robots, all we would know about our solar system would be based off of guesswork, because humans cannot survive out in deep space. -
Humanoids
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Humanoids such as ASIMO are important because they are the robots of the modern era. They will be the type of robot that will become our caretakers. -
Period: to
21st Cent-Near Future
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Small robots
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Small robots such as this flying camera are important for many purposes, the most obvious of which being security. This camera can fly about and gather video without people really seeing it. -
NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Rovers
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These rovers are important because they have done what humans could not do: land on Mars. They have collected samples for us from Mars, and they prove that robots can "survive" on foreign planets. -
Re-producing robots
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Reproducing robots are important because if robots can reproduce, then humans do not have to assemble them, or program other robots to assemble them. -
MQ-9 Reaper
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The Reaper is important because it can kill and provide defense to our country without risking American lives. It can also give valuable air support to ground troops.
