Main Historical Moments in Robotics

By Ana Meraz
  • Sketches by Leonardo da Vinci
    1500 BCE

    Sketches by Leonardo da Vinci

    Draw plans for a "Mechanical Knight" or humanoid automaton.
  • First Automata
    400 BCE

    First Automata

    Archytas of Tarentum builds "The Dove", a mechanical bird propelled by steam.
  • Telar de Jacquard

    Telar de Jacquard

    Joseph Marie Jacquard invents a programmable loom using punch cards, a key precursor to programming.
  • Turtle Machine

    Turtle Machine

    William Grey Walter builds the Turtle Machines (Elmer and Elsie), robots with simple mechanisms that mimic biological behavior.
  • Invention of the First Industrial Robot

    Invention of the First Industrial Robot

    George Devol designs the Unimate, considered the first digitally operated industrial robot.
  • Stanford (Shakey) arm

    Stanford (Shakey) arm

    The Stanford Arm, a pioneering robotic manipulator, is developed.
  • First Six-Axis Robot

    First Six-Axis Robot

    KUKA develops the FAMULUS, the first industrial robot with six electromechanical axes, laying the foundation for modern robots.
  • PUMA Robot

    PUMA Robot

    Unimation, under license from General Motors, launches the PUMA (Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly), which became the standard for assembly robotics.
  • Mars Exploration Rovers

    Mars Exploration Rovers

    NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers land on Mars, demonstrating the potential of autonomous robots for long-term space exploration.