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Automaton (Biological Processors)
Pooping DuckJacques de Vancanson, a French engineer created the "Pooping Duck". This was a testament to his handiwork in the automaton area of robotics. This is its own specialized subject area meant to imitate animate objects, which move and perform tasks on their own. -
Difference Engine
Charles BabbageCharles Babbage as a mathmatician invented the Difference Engine, which complied mathematical tables. Babbage envisioned an Analytical Engine, that would intend to become a general symbol manipulator. Although his designs for the Analytical Engine never took flight, he was still dubbed as the father of computing, and some of his logic and ideas are still used in computing today. -
Ford's Assembly Line
Assembly LineDuring the Industrial Revolution, Henry Ford created the first assembly line. The invention was utilized by engineers to produce the "Model T" car on a massive scale. This momentous innovation allowed cars to be manufactured much more quickly and at a much cheaper cost. -
"Robot"
Karel Capek, a Czech writer introduced the word "Robot" in his play "RUR" (Rossuum's Universal Robots). The word in Czech derives from "Robota", which means compulsory labor. -
Asimo's Law of Robotics
Robotics LawsIssac Asimov, a science fiction writer descibes the Three Laws of Robotics in his short story "Liar!"
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. -
The Robotic Arm
George Devol invented the first programmable arm. He and his partner, Joseph F. Engelberger, named this revolutionary concept Universal Automation (later simplified to "Unimation"). General Motors implemented the first Unimate arm on an assembly line. These robotic arms were very useful in replacing workers assigned to very hazardous tasks in factories and other areas. -
Stanford Arm
Stanford ArmVictor Scheinman invents the Stanford Arm at the robotics lab at Stanford University. This is the first successful electrically powered, computer-controlled robot arm. Completely controlled by computers, this arm was later accomodated to fit on assembly lines and could be guided by optical and contact sensors. -
Da Vinci Surgical System
The FDA approved the Da Vinci surgical system to be used in its first surgical procedure. The Da Vinci surgical system was a revolutionary step in surgical procedures. It centers around a minimally invasive sugeries that can be much more precise than surgeries done directly by hand. Because it is minimally invasive, it entails quicker recovery times and more certainty in surgery. -
Mars Spirit Rover
MARS RoverNASA lands the Spirit rover on Mars. Although this rover "died" in 2011, it still serves as an important milestone in interplanetary exploration. Its mission was to discover water on Mars (which it did), but it faced much adversity having to trek across lava fields and hot springs. Ultimately it was the Martian winter cold that damaged critical engine components and damaged electrical connections, delivering the killing blow. -
Self Replication
Introduced at Cornell University, "Molecubes" were created for the sole purpose of self replication. The concept of the invention was to be utilized for other robots to replicate or repair themselves.
