Timeline: robotics timeline

350 BCE

First robot ever made

The brilliant Greek mathematician, Archytas ('ahr 'ky tuhs') of Tarentum builds a mechanical bird dubbed
"the Pigeon" that is propelled by steam. It serves as one of history’s earliest studies of flight, not to
mention probably the first model airplane.

200 BCE

Ctesibus of Alexandria designs water clocks

The Greek inventor and physicist Ctesibus ('ti sib ee uhs') of Alexandria designs water clocks that have
movable figures on them. Water clocks are a big breakthrough for timepieces.

Dec 5, 1898

Nikola Tesla builds and demonstrates a remote controlled robot boat

Nikola Tesla builds and demonstrates a remote controlled robot boat at Madison Square Garden.

Sep 15, 1946

George Devol patents a playback device

George Devol patents a playback device for controlling machines.

Feb 6, 1966

ELIZA is created at MIT by Joseph Weizenbaum.

An artificial intelligence program named ELIZA is created at MIT by Joseph Weizenbaum. ELIZA functions as a computer psychologist that manipulates its users’ statements to form questions.

Oct 17, 1968

Stanley Kubrick makes Arthur C. Clark's, 2001: A Space Odyssey into a movie.

Stanley Kubrick makes Arthur C. Clark's, 2001: A Space Odyssey into a movie. It features HAL, an on board computer that decides it doesn't need its human counterparts any longer.

Sep 12, 1977

Star Wars is released.

George Lucas' movie about a universe governed by the force introduces watchers to R2-D2 and C-3PO. The movie creates the strongest image of a human future with robots since the 1960's and inspires a generation of researchers.

Mar 7, 1981

Takeo Kanade builds the direct drive arm.

Takeo Kanade builds the direct drive arm. It is the first to have motors installed directly into the joints of the arm. This change makes it faster and much more accurate than previous robotic arms.

Aug 11, 1993

Dante an 8-legged walking robot developed at Carnegie Mellon University

Dante, an 8-legged walking robot developed at Carnegie Mellon University descends into Mt. Erebrus, Antarctica. Its mission is to collect data from a harsh environment similar to what we might find on another planet. The mission fails when, after a short 20 foot descent, Dante's tether snaps, dropping it into the
crater.

Apr 8, 1997

The Pathfinder Mission land on Mars.

The Pathfinder Mission lands on Mars. Its robotic rover Sojourner rolls down a ramp and onto Martian soil in early July. It continues to broadcast data from the Martian surface until September.