History of Robotics

  • First Use of The Word Robot

    First Use of The Word Robot
    In 1921, Karel Capek introduced the word "Robot" in his play "R.U.R."
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  • First Time a Robot was on the Big Screen

    First Time a Robot was on the Big Screen
    Fritz Lang's movie "Metropolis" released. Maria, one of the stars, play a robot.
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  • Turing Machine

    Turing Machine
    Alan Turing introduced the concept of a theoretical computer called a Turing Machine.
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  • I, Robot

    I, Robot
    Issac Asimov produces a series of short stories about a robot that is supposed to protect a child. He made many more stories over a span of 10 years. He is credited with the popularization of the term "robotics."
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  • Three Laws of Robotics

    Three Laws of Robotics
    Issac Asimov created The 3 Laws of Robotics: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
  • EINAC

    EINAC
    Secret WWII project by John Mauchly. It was one of the first computers to use the Turing system. Weighed over 50 tons and was 1,800 square feet big.
  • Turing Test

    Turing Test
    Alan Turing published "Computer Machinery & Intelligence." It was made to test if robots have learned to think for themselves yet. It becomes known as the "Turing Test."
  • Semi Automatic Ground Environment

    Semi Automatic Ground Environment
    By 1950, early networks of computers included the military radar system Semi Automatic Ground Environment. These coordinated data from many radar sites
  • Logic Theorist

    Logic Theorist
    Herbert Simon & Alan Newel created the Logic Theorist. It was the first expert system. It was used to solve difficult math problems.
  • MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

    MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
    John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky created the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts.
  • Semi Automatic Research Environment

    Semi Automatic Research Environment
    the commercial airline reservation system semi-automatic business research environment (SABRE) went online with two connected mainframes. It was used to track all sorts of information. Today it is used by over 350,000 travel agencies
  • First Industrial Arm Robot

    First Industrial Arm Robot
    The Unimate, the first industrial arm robot, is made. It is used to do dangerous or repetitive tasks on General Motors assembly lines
  • Stanford Arm

    Stanford Arm
    Victor Scheinman, a student in the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, creates the Stanford Arm. This arm is still influencing robot arms today
  • Stanford Cart

    Stanford Cart
    The Stanford Cart is revealed by Stanford University. It was designed to be a line follower. It could be controlled via computer aswell.
  • Star Wars

    Star Wars
    Star Wars is released. 2 of the main characters, R2-D2 and C-3PO, showed watchers how robots might look in society one day.