Robotics timeline By VSFeazelle081200 Nov 21, 1946 George Devol patents a playback device for controlling machines. Nov 21, 1966 ELIZA is created at MIT by Joseph Weizenbaum. Nov 21, 1968 A Space Odyssey into a movie. It features HAL, an onboard computer that decides it doesn't need its human counterparts any longer Nov 21, 1977 George Lucas' movie about a universe governedby the force introduces watchers to R2-D2 and C-3PO. Nov 21, 1979 Dante an 8-legged walking robot developed at Carnegie Mellon University Nov 21, 1981 Takeo Kanade builds the direct drive arm. Nov 21, 1987 The Pathfinder Mission land on Mars. Nov 21, 2000 LEGO releases the MINDSTORMS Robotics Nov 21, 2002 Honda builds ASIMO Nov 21, 2003 SONY releases the AIBO ERS-7